OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has signed a bill aimed at shutting down one of the country’s largest for-profit, privately run immigration jails in 4 years.
The 1,575-bed Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma is operated by the GEO Group under a contract with ICE.
The bill allows GEO to continue operating the jail until 2025 and is likely to face a legal challenge.
The Northwest Detention Center currently houses fewer than 200 detainees because of pandemic-related precautions.