ICE presence at Tacoma hospital sparks community outcry at town hall

TACOMA, Wash. — Community members, nurses and labor advocates gathered in Tacoma on Friday evening to discuss concerns about the presence of federal immigration officers inside a local hospital and to call for what organizers describe as keeping “ICE out of hospitals.”

The two-hour town hall, held at the Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center, focused on reported Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity at St. Joseph Medical Center and broader concerns about the role of private detention contractor GEO Group.

The event was organized by Tanggol Migrante WA, the Washington State Nurses Association, Malaya Movement Tacoma and PUSO Tacoma.