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Utah Prisoner Advocate Network

UPAN | A nonprofit community advocacy group supporting the families of Utah inmates.


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More than 140 people

More than 140 people detained at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, are participating in a hunger strike over concerns involving food, medical care, and conditions inside the facility.

The detention center is operated by the private prison company GEO Group under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to the immigrant-led advocacy organization La Resistencia, detainees have reported significant delays in receiving meals and inadequate access to medical treatment, including allegations involving people with broken or dislocated bones. La Resistencia is describing the current action as the 20th hunger strike at the Tacoma facility this year.

These concerns come amid a larger, well-documented dispute over oversight of the facility. Washington officials have reported approximately 3,500 complaints from detainees in recent years, including nearly 1,000 related to food, water, and air quality. State health inspectors have also repeatedly been denied access while Washington and GEO Group have fought in federal court over the state’s authority to inspect the facility.

Separately, GEO Group has acknowledged discussions involving the possible sale of privately owned detention facilities to ICE. GEO founder and CEO George Zoley recently told investors that potential facility sales could create significant liquidity and shareholder value for the company. It has not been confirmed that the Tacoma facility itself will be sold.

UPAN believes that every person held in government custody—regardless of immigration status or the reason for their detention—is entitled to adequate food, necessary medical care, humane treatment, and meaningful oversight.

We will continue following this situation and sharing credible updates as more information becomes available.

Sources include La Resistencia, Associated Press, KUOW, federal court reporting, and GEO Group corporate filings.BREAKING🚨 More than 140 immigrants at the for-profit ICE jail in Tacoma have refused all food since August 11 to demand edible meals and medical care. Several with untreated broken bones are among them.

The hunger strike at the Northwest Detention Center, run for profit by the GEO Group, followed a night when more than 70 people went nearly 24 hours with nothing to eat. By midnight on August 12, according to the immigrant-led group La Resistencia, over 140 people still had not been given dinner. When food does arrive, detainees have described it as being like dog food.

"Bad food, there's no medicine. It's nearly a month with pain in my molars, and they won't help me," one man said. Another stepped toward the camera during a video call, said he was originally from Laos, and said: "All we need is just food. We want food!" A man from Iran said people arrive with no money for the commissary, then added, "Please get us out of here. I have a 10-month-old that depends on me."

Several detainees with broken or dislocated bones have reportedly gone without treatment. The strikers are also demanding care for sick people inside, particularly those with diabetes. Type 1 diabetics can die within 24 to 72 hours without insulin.

This is the 18th hunger strike this year at that one facility. La Resistencia posted video of men pleading to be fed and given medicine while GEO employees refused them.

While that was happening inside, GEO founder and CEO George Zoley was on an investor call describing the company's coming talks to sell detention facilities to ICE as a "significant liquidity and shareholder value-enhancing event" for the company. ICE bought a comparable California facility for nearly $500 million this month. Zoley has said federal ownership would be a way to avoid state oversight. Washington health inspectors have been blocked from entering the Tacoma facility again and again, even after winning in federal court.

Congresswoman Emily Randall, whose district includes the jail, said the plan is about making CEOs like Zoley richer. "

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Results in Action: Jail Resource and Reentry Program

Successful reentry starts with the right support.

Under my leadership, the Sheriff’s Office partnered with Salt Lake County to establish the Jail Resource and Reentry Program (JRRP), connecting individuals leaving the jail with resources including mental health and substance use treatment, Medicaid, legal services, housing referrals, and other community support.

These voluntary services help remove barriers after release and give people the tools to move forward successfully.

Public safety is about more than what happens inside the jail. By strengthening reentry, we can reduce repeat involvement in the criminal justice system and build safer communities. ... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago
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A judge can send someone before sentencing. After? The door legally locks. Here's why that needs to change.

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4 days ago
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📱 UPAN Monthly Meeting Recap: UDC Tablet Program

ICYMI: Tonight's UPAN monthly meeting featured Valerie Worrell, who oversees tablet technology for the Utah Department of Corrections, sharing an in-depth update on the transition from Orijin tablets to the new ViaPath system.

Here's what she covered:

✅ Rollout timeline: ViaPath is rolling out at the men's facility this fall (August through October), with a goal of one tablet per person by October.

✅ What's changing: Orijin tablets aren't going away completely. A few per housing unit will stay for staff communication and healthcare requests, and they'll shift focus to education and reentry programs.

✅ Free vs. paid features: ViaPath will offer free apps like audiobooks, the law library, Duolingo, Khan Academy, and more, along with pay-to-play options like movies and streaming.

✅ Messaging and video visits: New "Getting Out" text and video features are expected by December 2026, pending security review. Free video visits from visiting rooms will continue as they are now.

✅ Security and PIN help: Valerie explained the login process and what to do if someone's PIN isn't working.

Valerie also stayed for a Q&A and answered questions directly from families in attendance. We're grateful for her time and openness tonight.

🎥 Watch the full recording here:

📅 Next month: Join us September 14th when we hear from Dennis Wynn of New Path Foundation.

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5 days ago
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About UPAN

The Utah Prisoner Advocate Network (UPAN) is dedicated to supporting families and loved ones as they navigate the challenging journey of incarceration. When a friend or family member is incarcerated, it can be an overwhelming experience, as supporters face the complex rules, regulations, and restrictions of life separated by bars. UPAN works to make this transition less complicated and isolating by providing resources and support for families while also advocating for better conditions and fairness within Utah’s correctional facilities. Please visit our About Page to learn more.

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UPAN is a proud coalition member of People Not Prisons, a group of advocacy groups working on behalf of people with mental health conditions, people recovering from substance use disorders, and men and women caught up in Utah’s criminal justice system.

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The Utah Prisoner Advocate Network (UPAN) is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your contributions are tax-deductible and directly support our mission to create positive change. Information about an UPAN’s tax-exempt status and filings can be found on the IRS website. To make a donation and join our efforts, please visit our Donations page.

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