Outside the Northwest ICE Processing Center, there is a prominent “no trespassing” sign, serving as a clear warning to anyone who approaches the facility.
An advocacy group reported that a record-breaking number of over 100 detained migrants were transported to Seattle with the intention of transferring them to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma.
La Resistencia reported that a group of 110 individuals arrived from Phoenix on Sunday, marking the largest gathering they have observed on a flight since they started monitoring arrivals and departures in 2023. Previously, the largest group they had witnessed on a flight consisted of 53 people.
According to the immigrant rights organization, individuals disembarked the aircraft at Boeing Field while being restrained with handcuffs and dressed in civilian attire. It remains uncertain as to where these individuals originated from.
According to Maru Mora Villalpando, the founder of La Resistencia, the flight that arrived on Sunday was unusual. Typically, the flights are scheduled to arrive at the King County-owned airport on Tuesdays.
The flight, as per the queries, was not commented on by a representative from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
La Resistencia monitors the movement of flights at Boeing Field from a room located within the airport, using a live camera feed. According to Mora Villalpando, individuals arriving on flights are typically transported by buses to the Tacoma facility.
The privately-owned detention center is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the country and the only one in the state, able to accommodate more than 1,500 individuals. According to La Resistencia, the recent arrival of 110 people will bring the center’s population to over 1,000, effectively restoring it to pre-pandemic levels.
Mora Villalpondo anticipates an increase in the number of people traveling by flights due to President Donald Trump’s promise to significantly escalate deportations.
Mora Villalpando stated that this is just an indication of future developments.
The Tacoma facility accommodates both individuals detained for deportation within the local area and those apprehended at the southern border and subsequently transported to Washington. The duration of their stays can vary greatly, ranging from as short as a day to as long as several months or even years.
The facility is operated by The GEO Group, a Florida-based company. For years, La Resistencia has been advocating for its closure.
In the past week, ICE has reported an increase in arrests, with over 800 people being apprehended per day. This figure is significantly higher than the average of around 300 daily arrests before President Trump assumed office.
The Tacoma for-profit facility has been under scrutiny for a long time due to allegations of human rights violations.
Mora Villalpando expressed her concern about what would happen when they reach maximum capacity.
In the past, detainees at GEO were compensated $1 per day for their labor, which involved tasks like laundry, cleaning, and food preparation. However, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld previous court decisions stating that this practice was in violation of Washington’s minimum wage law.
According to a report published last year, individuals held at the facility experience longer periods of detention compared to the national average.
Last year, there were reports of two detainees who passed away at the facility. One of them died due to natural causes after spending years in solitary confinement, while the other individual was suffering from fentanyl withdrawal.
ICE and GEO have consistently asserted their adherence to federal standards and have emphasized their dedication to upholding the rights of detainees. When asked for comment, GEO deferred questions to ICE.