OLYMPIA — Washington lawmakers are advancing a set of bills aimed at tightening oversight of the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, a privately operated federal detention facility long criticized by detainees, advocates, and state officials. While the legislation targets a Tacoma facility, the proposals carry implications for communities across Southwest Washington, where immigrant families, local service providers, and county agencies interact with the federal detention system.

According to reporting by Washington State Standard, lawmakers heard emotional testimony this month from Melissa Chaudhry, who described what her husband, Zahid Chaudhry—a U.S. Army veteran—experienced while detained for four months in 2024. Her statements to the Legislature included accounts of suicide attempts, inadequate food, and what she called “medical violence.” These descriptions remain testimony, not findings, but they echo concerns state agencies say they have received for years.

Washington has attempted to regulate conditions inside private detention facilities since 2023, when a law required fresh produce, climate-controlled living spaces, windows in rooms, free telecommunications access, weekly mental health evaluations, and unannounced Department of Health (DOH) inspections. The GEO Group, which operates the Tacoma facility under federal contract, has challenged those requirements in court.

A ruling last summer by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that state regulators can enforce health and safety standards at the center. A panel of judges recently denied GEO’s request for a rehearing and also denied the company’s bid to pause enforcement while it prepares a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court.

DOH attempted to conduct an inspection in September 2025 but was turned away. According to reporting by Washington State Standard, thousands of complaints had reached the agency by that point, including concerns about drinking water quality, access to medication, sanitation, and room crowding.

Fines for blocking inspections

In response to these conflicts, lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 6286, which would impose escalating daily fines—starting at $1,000 per day—on private detention centers that refuse entry to state inspectors. Funds collected would support people who have been wrongfully detained or harmed in detention, potentially including housing, food, legal support, and financial compensation.

Tacoma Mayor Anders Ibsen testified in support of the measure, telling senators that meaningful fines are necessary to discourage noncompliance. Bill supporters argue the penalties would help bring transparency to a system that affects immigrant families statewide, including those in Cowlitz County who often rely on nonprofit and legal service networks that mobilize when someone is detained or released from Tacoma.

Tax proposal for private operators

A separate proposal, House Bill 2713, would establish a 1% business and occupation tax surcharge on income earned from operating private detention centers. The GEO Group’s most recent contract with ICE for the 1,575‑bed Tacoma facility was valued at $700 million over 10 years, though lawmakers noted that projected revenue from the surcharge remains uncertain.

Because the bill generates state revenue, it remains alive past the cutoff that has sidelined many other proposals this session. The bill sponsor has clarified she does not intend for nonprofit-run facilities—such as Martin Hall Juvenile Detention Facility in eastern Washington—to be included.

Expanding required reporting

The most advanced of the three measures is House Bill 2464. The legislation would require private detention facilities to report allegations of abuse or neglect, as well as deaths and serious injuries, to the Department of Health. Two deaths were reported at the Tacoma facility in 2024.

The bill would also require local law enforcement agencies to submit annual reports detailing their responses to incidents at privately run detention centers. For Southwest Washington, this could standardize information passed between local police departments and state regulators when residents are transported, released, or detained across county lines.

The House approved HB 2464 last week on a party-line vote, and the bill passed a Senate committee on Wednesday.

Why this matters for Southwest Washington

Families from Cowlitz County with loved ones detained in Tacoma often face long travel times, limited visitation windows, and difficulty obtaining information about a detainee’s health or status. Local immigrant support organizations in Longview and Kelso routinely coordinate emergency assistance, legal referrals, or transportation when someone is released from the facility—sometimes with little advance notice.

If enacted, the proposed legislation could improve the flow of information from detention centers to state regulators and local agencies. Expanded oversight could also influence how community providers prepare for releases, medical needs, or legal follow-up. For counties without detention centers of their own, transparency in Tacoma directly affects the clarity and safety of reentry for residents returning home.

For now, all three bills continue moving through the legislative process, though only HB 2464 has cleared a chamber vote. Lawmakers are expected to revisit the proposals as court battles over state regulatory authority continue.

Sources
Washington State Standard: WA lawmakers target immigrant detention center with tax, fine and oversight bills
Washington State Legislature: Bill summaries for SB 6286, HB 2713, HB 2464