TACOMA, WA - Today, Congresswoman Emily Randall (D, WA-06), cohosted a community vigil outside the Tacoma NW ICE Detention Center alongside OneAmerica, immigrant rights advocates, local elected officials, and community members. The gathering honored those who were killed by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents, and those who lost their lives while in ICE custody. Rep. Randall attempted to complete her 7th Congressional Oversight Visit at the facility prior to the vigil. She was illegally denied entry.

"Renee Good and Alex Pretti's lives mattered so much to so many people. The lives of those individuals who died in detention facilities mattered so much to their families, and they matter to all of us," said Rep. Randall. "There is some hope and optimism in things continuing to grow and bloom. And to staying grounded and remembering that we can get through these hard and terrible times together. Not without loss, not without pain, but as we stay committed to each other, and we stay committed to our collective humanity, to growing a better future together, let us hold on to these moments of beauty and hope, because they want to take it from us."

"Today we honored the lives taken by CBP and ICE--whether through death, separation, or detention," said Mariel Mendez, board member for OneAmerica Votes. "But we don't want to host more vigils. We need Congress to stop funding these agencies that terrorize our communities and tear apart our families. We stand with Rep. Randall to demand real accountability and not one more dollar to ICE."

Congresswoman Randall was joined by Tacoma Council Member Olgy Diaz, Pierce County Council Member Robyn Denson, One America Board Member Mariel Mendez, advocates, and community members.

Congresswoman Randall has repeatedly called out the lawless behavior of ICE and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents and is an original cosponsor of articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Earlier this week, Randall stood outside DHS headquarters with House Democrats to demand Sec. Noem to step down.

Also earlier this week, Randall voted NO on the Continuing Resolution that would fund DHS until February 13th, 2026 while Congress negotiates the final annual funding deal, stating: "I voted NO on this funding deal because DHS doesn't deserve another dollar of taxpayer money as long as lawless agents - led by Secretary Noem, Stephen Miller, Tom Homan, Greg Bovino, and the President - are violating our constitutional rights."

As of February 6, 2026, Randall has completed 7 Congressional Oversight visits at the Tacoma NW ICE Detention Center. She was illegally denied entry twice. During her January 2026 oversight visit, Randall spoke with several detainees inside the facility. In the media Q&A afterward, Randall called out the shocking lack of medical care detainees receive while in custody.

After Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed on January 7th by ICE agents in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Randall joined her Democratic House colleagues for a shadow hearing in Minnesota. During that hearing, Randall questioned Mendota Heights Police Chief McCarthy on poor ICE training tactics compared to local police training. Just a few weeks later, CBP agents shot and killed another American citizen in Minneapolis-St. Paul. After ICU Nurse Alex Pretti was killed, Rep. Randall released this statement: "Like most of you have now seen, there has been another murder in Minneapolis by DHS agents…I'm horrified, I'm angry, I'm heartbroken, and I also know we need to take action."

Members of Congress have oversight authority of ICE Detention Facilities per Sec. 527 of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024. In July 2025, several Democratic Representatives sued the Trump Administration for illegally denying the members entry to ICE Detention Facilities. Rep. Randall was once illegally denied entry in August of 2025. A federal judge blocked Trump's effort to deny members of Congress entry to ICE Detention Facilities in December 2025. In January 2026, DHS Sec. Noem re-issued a memo requiring Members of Congress to provide seven days notice before completing Congressional Oversight Visits. Randall responded: "One thing is clear - this administration doesn't want us to know what goes on inside these facilities."