Dexter, Randall Send Letter Demanding Answers Over Inhumane Condition at ICE Detention Center

Members call attention to reports of inedible food, lack of medical care and alleged sexual assault occurring inside the facility

VIDEO: Dexter and Randall made an unannounced oversightvisit at NWDC to meet with hunger strikers earlier this month

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Reps. Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) and Emily Randall (WA-06), sent a letter to ICE Acting Director, David Venturella, DHS Inspector General, Dr. Joseph Cuffari and CEO of The GEO Group, George Zoley, calling out the inhumane conditions inside the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma, Washington.

In their letter, Reps, Dexter and Randall call out ICE, GEO and DHS for failing to meet their obligation to provide access to timely medical services, adequate food, visitation and other basic services.

The Members wrote in the letter:

"We remain deeply concerned about reports of inadequate and delayed access to medical care. Since our first visits in early 2025, numerous constituents have reported having medical issues dismissed and access to care delayed or denied, and this was echoed again during our visit," wrote Congresswomen Dexter and Randall. "Additionally, we were alarmed to hear about alleged sexual assault occurring within the facility. We were also unable to exercise our congressional oversight authority to inspect the medical area of the facility because no Public Health Service staff were available. In addition, we were informed that access continues to be denied to state health inspectors of Washington's Department of Health."

Congresswomen Dexter and Randall are demanding answers from ICE, DHS, and The GEO Group on clarifying standards for mealtimes, medical care and visiting procedures. In response to reports of 140+ individuals participating in a hunger strike at the NWDC, Reps. Dexter and Randall made an unannounced oversight visit on August 15. While inside, the Congresswomen met with a hunger striker and heard about the delayed mealtimes, inedible food and lack of medical care being provided to detainees.

Following the Members' visit, the hunger strike ended on August 20 and ICE and The GEO Group agreed to make changes to improve conditions inside the facility.

Rep. Randall recently returned to the NWDC to follow up on cases her office is handling.

During the unannounced visit, Rep. Dexter, who practiced as a critical care and lung physician for more than 20 years, raised serious concerns about reports that people detained at the facility have gone on a hunger strike over food and poor living conditions, Rep. Dexter explained that inadequate nutrition and prolonged hunger can cause serious health risks, particularly for people with underlying medical conditions.

Read the full letter, here.

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