(SEATTLE, WA, 4/30/2026)— The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is proud to stand alongside Washington State lawmakers and the governor’s office as they pursue legal action against GEO Group’s refusal of state health inspection.
The Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma – the only for-profit federal immigration detention facility in Washington State which has long been the subject of deeply troubling reports from detainees and their families. Inadequate food, poor sanitation, lack of medical care, freezing temperatures, and punitive use of solitary confinement are among the conditions that have been documented inside the GEO Group-operated facility for years.
It is in response to these conditions that the governor’s office is now pursuing legal action against GEO Group after the corporation refused to allow the Washington State Department of Health to enter and conduct inspections as required by state law.
For full details on the governor’s action, see the governor’s official press release.
Imraan Siddiqi, Executive Director at CAIR-WA, said: “We’re pleased that Governor Fergusion and Attorney General Brown have taken these steps. We’ve seen countless community members targeted by ICE’S unfair policies and who have suffered at this GEO Group location. We hope this brings relief to all those impacted.”
HB 1470 was championed by Representative Lillian Ortiz-Self in 2023. That law gave the Department of Health the authority to conduct unannounced inspections of private detention facilities and enforce baseline standards for health, safety, and sanitation.
GEO Group responded by immediately suing the state, securing a temporary court injunction that blocked the law for nearly two years. Washington appealed. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the lower court’s ruling. GEO’s request for a full rehearing was denied early 2026, and GEO was required to comply -which they refused.
The Governor’s office is now pursuing legal action against GEO Group for blocking DOH inspectors from entering the facility. CAIR-WA applauds this decisive action.
CAIR-WA has spent years receiving and documenting complaints from detainees and their families about conditions inside the NWIPC and has specifically documented the failure of NWIPC to accommodate religious needs of Muslim detainees, which is a legally mandated right.
Detainees have reported things like halal meals containing insects, iftar meals hours after sunset during Ramadan, denial of Jummah Friday prayer access at proper times, and punitive transfers for detainees who requested religious meals.
The right to practice one’s faith is not a privilege. It is a fundamental right – one that does not disappear upon detention. CAIR-WA has brought these specific concerns to elected offices across Washington State, and we are proud that those conversations contributed to the momentum that led us to this decisive action.
We would also like to note the crucial work and partnership with peer organizations like La Resistencia, WAISN, NWIRP, One America and others in advancing these issues for our respective communities and immigrants statewide.
CAIR-WA will continue to monitor this legal process closely and advocate for full transparency in the inspection’s findings.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
END
CONTACT: Imraan Siddiqi, Executive Director at CAIR-WA, imraansiddiqi@cair.com