In a significant legal shift for private detention oversight, U.S.
Settle, an appointee of President George W.
This week's ruling directly addresses that defense, with Judge Settle pointing out that GEO does not require ICE approval to allow inspectors from the state Department of Labor and Industries into the building to check working conditions.
Governor Ferguson and State Officials Demand Accountability The ruling is being celebrated as a major victory by Washington state’s executive branch, which has been vocal in its criticism of the for-profit detention model.
This distinguishes between the "who" and "how" of detention: while the federal government decides who is detained, the state can regulate how they are treated in terms of environmental and physical health.
A federal judge ruled that Washington state inspectors must be allowed inside the Northwest ICE Processing Center despite GEO Group's objections.