Pierce County May Join Neighbors in Blocking Federal Detention Center Expansion

On March 3, King County Council passed an emergency one-year moratorium blocking permits for detention facility expansion to prevent potential ICE detention center siting, following news of the federal government exploring a new Pacific Northwest facility. Pierce County, where the 1,575-capacity Northwest Detention Center operated by GEO Group is currently located, will not consider adopting a similar ordinance until March 24. Despite efforts by immigrants’ rights groups like La Resistencia and advocates including Hannah Sabio-Howell, state and local officials have faced legal constraints from a 2022 Ninth Circuit decision that struck down California’s private prison ban as unconstitutional.