Prison Profiteer The GEO Group Accused of Refusing Health Inspections at Detention Facility Despite Court Ruling
Washington state officials asked a federal judge on April 28, 2026 to force The GEO Group to let health inspectors into the Northwest ICE Processing Center, an immigrant detention center the private company runs in Tacoma for federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Washington has received over 3,500 complaints regarding conditions at the facility; for months, state health inspectors have tried to gain access to the site to investigate these claims.
While the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the health inspections could take place, GEO has repeatedly turned inspectors away. [See: GEO Grp., Inc. v. Inslee, 151 F.4th 1107 (9th Cir. 2025).] So far, officials from the Washington Department of Health have tried to conduct inspections 10 times since 2023. In February of this year, GEO petitioned the Court to rehear the case and pause its order while the company prepares to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court denied both of GEO’s requests, allowing the ruling to formally take effect in April. [See: GEO Grp., Inc. v. Inslee, 166 F.4th 1188 (9th Cir. 2026).]
As reported by the Washington State Standard, the thousands of complaints regarding the GEO facility include allegations of medical mistreatment, abuse and neglect, and water and food concerns. Of the 3,500 complaints, around one-third stem from inadequate water, food and air quality. According to the state, some detainee complaints said the food contained burned plastic, splinters, hair, and worms, among other unsanitary objects; the water, detainees said, also tasted foul.
“Despite the mandate of the court and the seriousness of the problem,” Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said at a news conference outside of the facility, “The GEO Group continues to defy our laws by refusing to admit DOH inspectors. In my view, this is not just a legal obligation. It is a moral obligation.” See: GEO Grp., Inc. v. Inslee, USDC (W.D. Wash. Case No. 3:23-cv-05626).
Sources: Associated Press, Washington State Standard
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Related legal case
GEO Grp., Inc. v. Inslee
| Year | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Cite | USDC (W.D. Wash. Case No. 3:23-cv-05626) |
| Level | District Court |