The federal court on Thursday ordered the private operator of the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma to allow state inspectors access to the facility after months of denials. U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle issued the ruling, which becomes effective in two weeks and gives the company time to seek review.
What the order requires
The decision permits Washington State officials to carry out inspections intended to enforce state law at the detention center that holds people in federal immigration custody prior to release or deportation. But Settle explicitly limited the scope: the operator, The GEO Group, is not required to admit state inspectors into administrative and medical areas under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) control.
“The State raises compelling concerns for the health and safety of the detainees held at GEO’s Tacoma facility,” Settle wrote. “Although they are detained, their welfare remains within the State’s purview.”
State inspectors from the Washington State Department of Health had sought to examine conditions at the privately run facility after thousands of complaints were filed. According to court filings and statements from state officials, GEO repeatedly denied entry even after an appeals court upheld a state law intended to expand oversight.
Local reaction and next steps
Gov. Bob Ferguson and Washington Attorney General Nick Brown have pushed for access, saying the measure is necessary to protect detainee health and safety. The governor accused the company of obstructing lawful oversight in public remarks earlier this year.
- The order takes effect in roughly two weeks, giving GEO time to appeal.
- GEO has until the near-term federal deadline to petition the U.S. Supreme Court; that deadline has been extended previously.
- State inspectors will not have guaranteed access to ICE-run administrative and medical spaces under this order.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 28, 2026 | Public remarks and photo of state officials outside the Tacoma facility |
| Late April 2026 | State urged the court to compel GEO to permit inspections |
| July (Thursday), 2026 | Judge Settle issued order allowing state inspections with limits |
Representatives for GEO and ICE did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the ruling. The decision will affect how state agencies monitor conditions inside a facility that has drawn sustained scrutiny from community groups and state leaders. Local public-health and advocacy organizations in Tacoma are likely to watch closely as the state begins inspections under the court’s instructions.
The ruling leaves unresolved questions about access to areas under federal control and whether further appeals will reach the Supreme Court. For Tacoma residents, the order marks a significant step toward state-level oversight of a facility located within the city and underscores continuing tensions over private contracts for immigration detention.
