Northwest ICE center uses ‘chemical agents’ on immigrant detainees

 

Here is a disturbing report from the Pacific Northwest.  Nina Shapiro for the Seattle Times reports that the private company that operates the immigrant detention center in Tacoma, Washington has confirmed using “chemical agents” this week in the midst of protests over allegedly inadequate food and unsanitary conditions.

"GEO Group guards at the Northwest ICE Processing Center [(and here)] took the measure after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorized `non-lethal use of force' in response to a confrontation during a housing unit inspection that discovered contraband razor blades, an ICE spokesperson said.

The unit’s detainees barricaded their door before the chemical agents were used, according to GEO and a witness, and multiple reports say a hunger strike is taking place at the facility, though that’s contested by GEO."

According to a member of a group that follows conditions at the detention center, this was the first time she’s heard of chemical agents being used at the facility.  There have been reports of the use of tear gas at other immigrant detention centers.

KJ