Private immigrant prison in Tacoma must now pay working detainees minimum wage A federal jury ruled this week that GEO Group, the company that runs the Northwest ICE Processing Center for immigrants, must pay working detainees the state’s minimum wage. Thousands of past detainees are eligible for back pay in a multi-million dollar class action lawsuit. Casey Martin
An upcoming election, pay requirement, and holiday, this week Bill Radke reviews the week's news with Seattle Times mental health reporter Esmy Jimenez, Publicola police accountability reporter Paul Keifer, and Crosscut editor at large and host of the Mossback's Northwest, Knute Berger. Alec Cowan Sarah Leibovitz Bill Radke Play AudioListen 51 mins
An immigrant activist says ICE deported him in retaliation. Now he's back in the U.S. The Biden administration has allowed several prominent immigrants' rights activists back into the U.S. after they charged that immigration authorities were retaliating against them for speaking out. Joel Rose Play AudioListen 4 mins
Immigrants detained by ICE in Tacoma start another hunger strike Detainees ask about release over fears ICE and GEO Group are not protecting them from Covid-19 Paige Browning Play AudioListen 1 min
'Sacrificing everything for hope.' NW poet gives voice to migration stories In some families, the stories of why and how our ancestors immigrated to the United States are passed from generation to generation like lore. But in others...those stories are packed away and locked shut. Those unspoken conversations around migration inspired poet Ricardo Ruiz to travel back home to eastern Washington, and interview family and friends about their experiences emigrating from Mexico to Washington farming communities. Noel Gasca Play AudioListen 22 mins
ICE detainees in Tacoma reportedly on day three of hunger strike Detainees at Tacoma’s immigration facility are reportedly on day three of a hunger strike. And a spokesperson for the ICE facility confirms that chemical agents were used Wednesday in response to a disruption there. Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez Play AudioListen 2 mins
Hunger strike suspended at ICE facility in Tacoma, but objections remain Advocates for people detained at Tacoma's Northwest ICE Processing Center say dozens of detainees have ended a hunger strike — for now. KUOW Staff
Supreme Court sides with the Biden administration in a fight over immigration The Supreme Court handed President Biden's administration a major victory in a long-running dispute over how to enforce the nation's immigration laws. Joel Rose
Government's own experts found 'barbaric' and 'negligent' conditions in ICE detention Inspectors for the Department of Homeland Security found dangerous problems in immigration detention facilities. For years, the government fought NPR's efforts to obtain its often damning reports. Tom Dreisbach
Human rights group raises alarm about use of force, chemical weapons at Tacoma ICE center The University of Washington’s Center for Human Rights is raising concerns about the use of force at the federal immigration detention center in Tacoma and how they're being reported. Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez Play AudioListen 2 mins
