WSNA supports state’s lawsuit to allow health inspections at NW ICE center
Nurses and community members have long been concerned about conditions in the Northwest ICE Processing Center, (NWIPC, formerly known as the Northwest Detention Center), a Tacoma facility that houses ICE detainees. The NWIPC is operated by a private, for-profit company, the GEO Group, under a contract with ICE. The Department of Health (DOH) has received over 3,500 complaints about rotting or bug-infested food, lack of sanitary conditions, inadequate bathroom access, assault, and lack of needed medical care.
DOH has sought to inspect the NWIPC but has been repeatedly refused access. These refusals violate Washington law.
On April 28, Gov. Bob Ferguson and Attorney General Nick Brown announced that Washington is filing suit in state court, seeking an injunction to force the NWIPC to allow DOH entry to the facility.
This is a welcome move by our state government. No one should be subject to the inhumane, dangerous conditions that NWIPC detainees face. No matter where anyone stands on immigration policy or mass detention and deportation, there should be no question that detainees deserve basic human rights and safe living conditions.
This also is a question of following the law. The GEO group has already challenged the law and lost in federal court in 2025. No facility should be immune from health inspections. It shouldn’t require an injunction to allow DOH access to the NWIPC.
For nurses, this moment is not only about legal authority—it is about human dignity, ethical responsibility, and the protection of fundamental human rights.
The Code of Ethics for Nurses is clear in situations such as this: Nurses must practice with “compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person.” Nurses also are obligated to “advocate for and protect the rights, health, and safety of patients and populations.”
The continued refusal to allow inspections—despite court affirmation of the state’s authority—represents not only a legal failure, but a profound violation of basic human rights. WSNA calls for immediate compliance with Washington law and full access for health inspectors.