A federal judge is considering dismissing two lawsuits, including one by the state of Washington, that would force one of the nation’s largest privately run immigration detention centers to pay minimum wage for work done by detainees.
The GEO Group in Tacoma is asking U.S. District Judge Robert Bryan to dismiss the cases, saying that the state’s minimum wage law is overridden by Congress’ decision to set rates for work performed by detainees
The Washington Attorney General’s Office argued that it is entitled to enforce the minimum wage law against GEO just as it’s entitled to enforce it against any other company in Washington
GEO pays detainees $1 per day for tasks such as janitorial or kitchen work. Washington’s minimum wage is $11 per hour.
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