The Washington Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit on April 28, 2026 demanding that GEO Group allow health inspectors to enter its Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma. The suit follows a series of denials by the private prison operator, which has refused entry 10 times since 2023, most recently on April 20, 2026.
The lawsuit cites more than 3,500 complaints from detainees, including nearly 1,000 related to water, food, and air quality. Allegations range from contaminated food—worms, metal, string, and burnt plastic—to poor water quality and inadequate air filtration, underscoring serious health and safety concerns.
The legal basis for the lawsuit is Washington’s HB 1470, passed in 2023, which grants the Department of Health authority to enforce health and safety regulations at private detention facilities. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the law’s enforcement in August 2025, and the injunction that had blocked its application was lifted in March 2026. GEO Group has until June 11, 2026 to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, operated by GEO Group under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has a capacity of about 1,600 people. Since 2024, two detainees have died and six others have attempted suicide at the facility. In March 2026, GEO Group signed a six‑month extension of its contract to run the center for ICE, worth over $69 million.
This lawsuit adds to a growing pressure on private detention operators to meet state health standards. If the court grants the order, GEO Group would be compelled to comply with health inspections, potentially exposing systemic deficiencies and prompting further regulatory scrutiny. The outcome could have broader implications for GEO’s operations across the country.
GEO Group has faced prior legal challenges in Washington. In 2021, the state sued the company over alleged minimum‑wage violations, resulting in a $23.2 million verdict that was upheld by the Ninth Circuit in January 2025. GEO Group is seeking U.S. Supreme Court review of that decision.
The lawsuit underscores Washington’s authority to enforce health and safety standards in private detention facilities and highlights the potential for systemic changes in the industry if the court sides with the state.
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