1,500 people are currently detained in the ICE facility in Tacoma

Last week, I exercised my congressional oversight authority to tour the privately run ICE detention facility in Tacoma.

I took a basic tour, during which I saw the kitchen, the law library, medical facilities, and housing pods.

More than 1,500 people are currently detained in the Tacoma facility — that is more than twice as many as at the start of the year. The facility is understaffed and can not sufficiently provide basic services to the people being held there.

I do not approve of President Trump's policy to arrest 3,000 people a day for detention, and it is only exacerbating the problems arising from understaffing.

After the tour, I met with Alfredo Juarez Zeferino, known to the community as Lelo, a Northwest Washington community member who has been detained since March. Lelo is an activist, a union leader, and a husband.

Lelo seemed resilient and hopeful, but being in the detention center has taken a toll on him. He shared his experiences from the facility, and I shared with him that many people in Northwest Washington, beyond his family and friends, have been urging me to meet with him. I shared with him how Skagit County and the broader Northwest Washington community have rallied around him to fight for his future.

He asked for my help to be able to visit with his family, and I am working to make that possible.

I will continue to work with Representative Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, to ensure people detained by ICE receive basic services and have the opportunity to exercise their constitutional rights.

More soon,

Rick