The Northwest Detention Center - which was renamed as the Northwest ICE Processing Center in 2019 - is an immigration prison located in Tacoma, Washington. Because the new name of the facility masks its purpose as an immigration detention center, we will be referring to it using the acronym NWDC throughout this guide. Opened in 2004, the immigration detention facility is privately owned and operated by the GEO Group on behalf of U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement. The NWDC's current capacity is 1,575, making it one of the largest immigration prisons in the United States.
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project's Tacoma office is dedicated to serving people in immigration detention at the NWDC, with dedicated full-time staff focused on providing direct legal representation and support through two dedicated units: our Legal Orientation Program Unit (LOP), and our Detained Immigrant Advocates Unit (DIA).
Our LOP staff meets with detained community members one-on-one to assess their immigration cases and identify forms of relief; conducts workshops to help them fill out applications for relief and prepare for court; identifies wrongfully detained US citizens; advocates for the most vulnerable of those in detention; and provides "Know Your Rights" presentations to detained community members to explain the legal process and potential forms of relief.
Our DIA staff takes on cases referred by our LOP unit and provides them with direct legal representation. We also have a full-time staff member who coordinates training and support for pro bono attorneys interested in taking on detained cases.
If you know someone who is currently detained at the Northwest Detention Center, please contact us at detainedreferrals@nwirp.org.
Address: The NWDC is located in Tacoma, Washington, about 40 minutes south of Seattle. The address for the facility is 1623 East J Street, Tacoma, WA, 98421. Parking is available on the street in front of the prison.
Arriving Via Public Transit: The NWDC is about 1.2 miles from the Tacoma Dome Bus Station, located at 610 Puyallup Avenue, Tacoma, Washington.
What is an "A" Number? An “A” number usually is a 9-digit number assigned to non-citizens in the United States by the Department of Homeland Security. In some cases, this number is only 8 digits long. In these cases, 0 will serve as the first digit. If the person detained did not have an “A” number prior to detention, one will be issued when they are processed into the detention center. This number is printed on all paperwork issued by the government regarding immigration, and can also be found on bracelets worn by individuals in detention.
How do I find out if someone is at the NWDC? If you are a family member or attorney of record for someone you suspect is being held at the facility and have the full name and “A” number of the person you are looking for, you can try to find out if they are being held by:
Who is allowed to visit?
Do not visit if you are undocumented or have doubts about your current immigration status. If you lie about your status, this could have future consequences.
What do visitors have to bring? All adults must have photo identification. A driver’s license or other state I.D. is best.
How many visitors can a person have? A maximum of two adults and two children may visit an individual in detention at any one time. This regulation is to be interpreted flexibly and subject to exceptions.
Visiting hours: Family and friends can visit the facility seven days a week. The blocks for visitation are: 7am-10am, 1pm-4pm, and 6pm-9pm. However, there are restrictions within those visitation blocks based on a detained community members pod or security classification. We recommend calling 253-396-1611, pressing 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, pressing 6 to talk to someone, asking to be transferred to the front desk, and finally asking the guard when an individual can be visited during the week in order to ensure your visit is allowed.
Can people in immigration detention make phone calls? They can make calls from the NWDC using a personal PIN number issued to them if they have money in their accounts. The rate for calls is 10 cents for local calls and 15 cents for long-distance calls. They can also make collect calls. If you are having trouble receiving collect calls from the person in detention, you should call 1-866-348-6231. Certain calls, such as those to free legal services and consulates, are free. There are instructions for how to make free calls above the phones in each unit. NOTE: ICE and the NWDC reserve the right to record any phone calls made from or to the facility, except for attorney calls where the attorney has specifically requested the number be exempted from monitoring.
Can I call a person in immigration detention? You can not call an individual in immigration detention directly.
Can I leave a phone message for an individual in detention? In case of family or other emergencies, or to leave messages for an individual, you can call 253-396-1611. Messages must be short and usually serve only to prompt the person to call you back. Messages are delivered daily, between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. You can also leave voicemail messages of up to three minutes in length for people in detention by calling (888) 516-0115 for a $2.95 fee.
Can individuals in detention send mail? They can send mail at any time at their own expense. Any individual in detention who is indigent can send up to three pieces of regular-size mail at the facility’s expense per week.
Can I send mail to a person in immigration detention? Individuals in detention can receive mail, as long as it does not include any prohibited items that are considered contraband, such as paperclips or rubber bands. Also keep in mind that they cannot usually receive original identity documents, and it is preferable to send copies of such documents if they are for a person’s legal case.
Use the following address:
[Person in detention’s Name]
[Alien "A" Number]
1623 East J Street, Suite 5
Tacoma, Washington 98421-1615
How do I put money in an individual’s account? To put money in someone’s account, you can drop off cash or a U.S. Postal Money Order with the reception officer between 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. You can also send U.S. Postal Money Orders. Sending cash is strongly discouraged. Money orders other than those issued by the U.S. Post Office will not be placed in the person’s account. You can also make deposits online, by telephone at 1-866-345-1884, or by using one of the machines in the lobby of the NWDC. Both you and the person in detention should receive a receipt for any funds accepted.
How do I give money or property to someone who is getting deported? People facing deportation will receive in cash any money left in their account. Please note that accounts are closed shortly before deportation so no new money can be added to them once they are closed. You can put money in the individual's account using the instructions above. The money should be available within 30 minutes. People in detention must follow these procedures to receive property to take with them when they are deported:
Step 1: The individual fills out a KITE available in their unit to receive the property. The request must list what property the person facing deportation is receiving and who will be bringing the property.
Step 2: The form will be sent for approval by ICE.
Step 3: Once the request is approved, the individual will be notified and a letter will be sent to the front desk specifying who is bringing the property and what the property is. The individual will also be told when their friend/family should bring the property.
Step 4: The person dropping off the property comes to the front desk of the detention center from 4:30 - 6:00 PM.
What kind of property can a person facing deportation typically receive? One suitcase, no more than 40 pounds, filled with clothes.
Can people being deported or leaving the facility get their IDs back after they are released from the detention center? If the person is being deported, ICE will not return state or US-issued IDs. ICE will return foreign national IDs. If the person is released on bond, state ID documents will be returned.
What is a bond? A bond is money paid to the government in return for a person’s release. It is a guarantee that the individual will attend all court hearings and comply with the judge’s final order.
Who sets a bond? ICE can set a bond. People in detention usually receive a piece of paper with the heading: “Notice of Custody Determination” on it that has the amount of bond that ICE set.
The Immigration Judge can also set a bond. If ICE did not set a bond amount, the person can ask the Judge to set one by asking for a Bond Hearing. They can also ask the Immigration Judge to lower the bond that ICE set by requesting a bond hearing. However, the Immigration Judge does not have the power to lower everyone’s bond amount. Also, the Immigration Judge has the power to raise the amount or take the existing bond away.
Can the Immigration Judge set a bond for everyone? No. The Immigration Judge cannot set a bond for certain people. For example, people who are being charged as an “arriving alien” (someone who is picked up at a port of entry, like a land border or the airport), or people who were convicted of certain types of crimes, cannot get a bond from the Judge. Currently, Immigration Judges are denying bond jurisdiction for any person who entered the United States without inspection (EWI).
How does the person in detention request a bond hearing? The person can either ask the Immigration Judge for one in person at the first master calendar hearing, or the person can fill out a Motion Requesting Hearing for Bond Determination and mail to the court: Tacoma Immigration Court, 1623 East J Street, Suite 3, Tacoma, WA 98421. NWIRP can assist pro se individuals with this process.
What is the best way for a person in immigration detention to prepare for a bond hearing? The Immigration Judge is looking for two things: 1) Whether the person is a danger to the community; and 2) Whether the person is a “flight risk” – meaning, whether they are likely to go to all future court hearings. People in detention are encouraged to invite family members and friends to bond hearings and provide supporting documents to the Immigration Judge, such as letters from friends, family and employers. Other examples of evidence that can be helpful for a bond hearing include proof of rehabilitation like a certificate of completion for alcohol abuse treatment classes, proof of ability to pay the bond, et cetera.
The entire bond must be paid for the person to be released.
How do I check a person’s immigration case status? The easiest way to check the status of a case in immigration court is to call their automated number: 1-800-898-7180. You will need the person’s full 9-digit A number. If the A number only has 8 digits, enter a “0” at the beginning of the number.
This line will provide basic information about the case:
If the individual’s “A” number is not found in the system, do not worry. Sometimes there is a delay in entering cases into the system. Call back at a later date and try again.
If the problem persists, it may be that the individual’s case is not scheduled to go before a judge, such as when the individual has been previously removed from the country, or when he or she has signed a stipulated order of removal. If you need more information, you can call the Tacoma Immigration Court directly at 253-779-6020. Press zero (“0”) to skip forward and speak with court staff.
Where do people in immigration detention attend court? The Tacoma Immigration Court is located in the detention center. The address for the court is:
Tacoma Immigration Court
Northwest Detention Center
1623 East J Street, Suite 3
Tacoma, WA 98421
What are the stages of immigration court proceedings? The first type of hearing a person will attend is called a Master Calendar Hearing. This hearing is similar to an arraignment in criminal court. At the hearing, many people in detention will be brought to the courtroom at once, and the judge will spend a short time talking to each one. The judge will explain the government’s charges and inform the person of his or her rights. The judge will ask whether the person agrees with the government’s charges, listed in a document called a “Notice to Appear” (NTA). At this hearing, the person can also ask for a Bond Hearing to be scheduled for a later date, to get a bond or to get bond lowered. The person can also ask for more time to find a lawyer by requesting a Continuance.
If the person is eligible for a form of “relief” (a defense against deportation or removal) and wishes to apply for this relief, the judge will schedule an Individual Hearing. This also sometimes called a “merits hearing,” since this is when the person must present arguments for why he or she qualifies and should be allowed to stay in the U.S. The government attorney will also make arguments for why the person should be deported. Each side can present evidence and call witnesses. The judge will make a decision based on the arguments made at this hearing.
If the person disagrees with the judge’s decision at the Individual Hearing, he or she has the right to appeal to Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). To appeal, the BIA must receive a “Notice of Appeal” from the person within 30 days of the decision issued at the Individual Hearing. The person can make arguments in the Notice of Appeal, or can indicate that he or she will be sending arguments in a written statement, called a “brief.” If the person submits a brief, he or she must do so by the time set by the BIA, or the BIA will reject the appeal. All arguments and decisions are made in writing, and are sent by mail.
If the person disagrees with the BIA decision, he or she has the right to appeal to Federal Circuit Court. The Circuit Court for California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, among others, is the 9th Circuit.
Another method of relief, mainly for those who have been ordered deported but who ICE is unable to deport, can challenge their detention through a Writ of Habeas Corpus. Individuals interested in pursuing this option should contact their local Federal Public Defenders for more information.