March 11, 2021

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the Day 1 Alliance, the trade association representing private sector contractors working in the criminal justice and immigration systems, delivered live virtual testimony by D1A’s National Spokesperson Alexandra Wilkes before the Washington Senate’s Human Services, Reentry and Rehabilitation Committee hearing regarding HB 1090, a bill that would shut down the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma.

D1A released the following statement by National Spokesperson Alexandra Wilkes on the bill currently moving in the legislature:

“The Northwest ICE Processing Center has operated in Tacoma for more than 20 years under Democratic and Republican Presidential Administrations, offering the same high-quality services to the federal government throughout. The facility operates today under the same strict performance standards that existed and were strengthened under the Obama-Biden Administration.

“Like fellow Day 1 Alliance members, the government contractor that operates the facility in Tacoma plays zero role in determining or enforcing immigration policy or who should be detained at the facility.

“While this bill may serve as a good bit of political theater for its supporters, its impact will come the expense of the very individuals housed at the facility whose interests elected officials claim to have in mind. This bill would likely force those individuals to be transferred outside of the state, isolating them from family, friends and legal services.

“In the last year, we have witnessed how the willful spread of lies and misinformation about this facility by political actors has in fact had dangerous and even life-threatening consequences for our members’ employees and the individuals in their care here in Washington State.

“In fact, last July, an armed man with a history of engaging in anti-ICE protests attacked the facility with incendiary devices and attempted to set a commercial-size propane gas tank on fire. Tacoma Police Department responded, and the man died at the scene after shots were fired.

“As federal law enforcement stated at the time: ‘This could have resulted in the mass murder of staff and detainees housed at the facility had he been successful at setting the tank ablaze. … These are the kinds of incidents that keep you up at night.’

“This is the type of dangerous, misplaced aggression that can result from the outrageous, baseless accusations being leveled against contractor-operated facilities.

“While we respect the legislative process, decisions should be grounded in reality, which this bill is most certainly not.”

About the Day 1 Alliance:

The Day 1 Alliance (D1A) is a trade association representing private sector contractors helping government agencies address corrections and detention challenges in the United States. For more than 35 years, D1A members have worked with local, state, and federal governments led by members of both political parties to provide professional, humane, and respectful treatment to incarcerated and detained individuals. From day one, we understand we have a responsibility to provide safe and dignified care to those in our facilities. D1A members do not lobby for or against policies, regulations, or legislation that impact the basis for or duration of an individual’s incarceration or detention.

The members of the Day 1 Alliance are CoreCivic, The GEO Group, Management & Training Corporation, and LaSalle Corrections.

Learn more at day1alliance.org and follow us on Twitter @TheDay1Alliance.

Media inquiries:
contact@day1alliance.org

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