Note: I wrote this update before federal agents murdered Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. As we seek to hold ICE and Kristi Noem accountable, we’ll also fight for our neighbors being held at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma. – Emily

In January, I made my sixth oversight visit to the ICE facility in my district. 

The Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma is one of the largest ICE facilities in the country. More than 1,300 people are held there. I spoke with several of them — and I want you to hear what I heard.

• An 18-year-old woman with severe ovarian pain was sent out for an ultrasound in November and still hasn’t received the results. The only treatment she’s been offered is ibuprofen.

• A man who’s been dealing with gastrointestinal issues since June told me he’s still waiting for adequate care.

• A visually-impaired detainee whose first language is Mandarin has been struggling for months to access basic accommodations for both his language and disability.

• Staff for ICE and the GEO Group (the private company that operates the facility) remain in the room during detainees’ outside medical appointments, violating HIPAA protections and making it impossible to receive confidential care.

• The facility’s average length of stay has increased dramatically. One woman I spoke with has been held for 17 months, even though she hasn’t committed any crimes in the U.S.

• And still, ICE officials consistently refuse to answer our questions, even when we submit them in writing days in advance, as they asked us to do.

Let’s be clear: This is not a prison. This is a civil detention center. If you commit a crime, you can be arrested and charged, but many people at the Northwest Detention Center have had no due process whatsoever. Holding them in a facility without access to proper medical care is inhumane and does nothing to make us safer.

I’ll keep the pressure on this administration and won’t stop advocating for the basic humanity of everyone in the 6th District. Please watch the video and spread the word:

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Thank you for being in this fight with me 💙

 — Emily

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