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Content current as of 03/03/26

Immigration Resources

The City of Tacoma is sharing information to assist our community members with accessing immigration-related information. This web page includes links to immigration-related resources from many state and national organizations, as well as local resources for assistance in Tacoma. It also includes information on statements and actions by the Tacoma City Council, including links to Resolutions and statements by the Council.

In addition to City resources and information, this page provides information about State immigration-related legislative activity, as well as contact information for our State and Federal legislative delegation members.

This information is not a full and complete list of all resources; rather, it is intended to assist and support community members by providing access to some of the information and resources publicly available. It will be updated periodically as information becomes available.

Resources

The City of Tacoma is sharing the following links to resources to assist and support our community who may be seeking information or assistance. Many of these resources provide information in several languages and some provide downloadable tools. The information on this web page was obtained through public sources. The City has not independently verified the accuracy of the materials or services. Nothing on this page is intended as legal advice. You are encouraged to discuss any legal questions you may have with an attorney.

Civil Immigration Enforcement in Washington

Know Your Rights and Guides for Employers

Legal Assistance Resources and Additional Information

 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

View/Download Our Immigration Resources Flyer

The City of Tacoma is sharing the following links to resources to assist and support our community who may be seeking information or assistance. Many of these resources provide information in several languages and some provide downloadable tools. The information on this web page is obtained through public sources. The City is not recommending any particular organization or service. This information is intended for reference purposes.

Actions of the Tacoma City Council

  • Resolution No. 40636: Expressing support for those detained at the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC); making recommendations to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department to advocate for protection against viral outbreaks; supporting the Federal Immigrant Release for Safety and Security Together Act (FIRST Act); and calling for parole and bond for those detained at the NWIPC.
  • Resolution No. 41378: Authorizing the one-time use of Council Contingency Funds, in the amount of $10,000, to Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest (AIDNW), to support access to phone services for detainees in the Northwest ICE Processing Center.
  • Resolution No. 41757: Authorizing the one-time use of Council Contingency Funds, in the amount of $20,000, to Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest (AIDNW), to support access to phone services for detainees in the Northwest ICE Processing Center.
  • Resolution No. 41627: Restricting City funds, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel from being used to investigate, enforce, cooperate with, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal registration or surveillance programs or any other laws, rules, or policies that target individuals in Tacoma solely on the basis of race, religion, immigration, or citizenship status, or national or ethnic origin.
  • Resolution No. 41817: Directing the City Manager to clarify the use of City-owned property for federal immigration enforcement operations as directed in Resolution No. 41627.
  • Resolution No. 41844: Directing the City Manager to create a web page to share resources for immigrants, community members, and businesses related to immigration issues impacting residents of the City, including background on the City Council legislation in support of the City’s immigrant and refugee community and the City’s advocacy to restrict the use of for-profit detention centers; and directing the City Manager to create outreach materials and share this information with affected community members.

Government Relations and Bills

The City of Tacoma’s Government Relations Office works to advance the interests of the City of Tacoma through advocacy and intergovernmental engagement with local, state, federal, and tribal governments. The Government Relations team has advocated on behalf of the interests of the City and represents the policy positions and priorities of the City Council, including on immigration-related issues at the Washington State Legislature.

The following list of immigration-related bills has been compiled by the Government Relations team for the 2026 Washington State legislative session. It is provided as an informational resource for those interested in tracking immigration policy. Inclusion on this list does not indicate a position of support or opposition by the City.

Selected Immigration and Detention Bills That Have Passed Initial Policy and Fiscal Cutoffs as of March 2, 2026*

Bill # Short Description Sponsor Status**
HB 2105 (SB 5852) Concerning immigrant worker protections. The bill requires employers to notify workers about federal immigration eligibility inspections and limits employers’ voluntary cooperation with federal immigration authorities (like ICE) absent a subpoena or judicial warrant.

 

 Ortiz-Self Senate Rules
HB 2165 (SB 5876) Concerning false identification as a peace officer. The bill establishes the gross misdemeanor offense of False Identification as a Peace Officer and specifies how a person commits the offense.

 

 Obras Senate Floor
HB 2464 Concerning reporting requirements and law enforcement responses for incidents at private detention facilities. The bill requires private detention facilities to submit reports on serious incidents to the Department of Health (DOH) and local law enforcement, and mandates annual local law enforcement reporting to DOH on information about incidents.

 

 Ortiz-Self Senate Floor
HB 2597 Concerning remedies for violations of federal constitutional rights occurring during immigration enforcement. The bill creates a new state cause of action allowing individuals to seek damages and other relief from government agents who violate federal constitutional rights in the course of civil immigration enforcement, while broadly limiting immunity defenses.

 

 Thai House Rules Committee
SSB 5855 (HB 2173) Concerning the use of face coverings by law enforcement officers. The bill prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings, while allowing limited exceptions for medical masks, undercover work and SWAT protective gear, and authorizing civil actions for violations.

 

 Valdez House Floor
SB 5906 Establishing data and personal safety protections within areas of public accommodation for all Washington residents. The bill prohibits early learning providers and school district employees from collecting information about the immigration statuses of students or their family members.  The bill prohibits early learning providers, school district employees, health care facilities, higher education institutions, and county auditors’ offices from allowing immigration enforcement officers to enter the nonpublic areas of those locations without a warrant or court order.

 

 Hansen House Rules
SSB 6002 (HB 2332) Concerning driver privacy protections. The bill establishes comprehensive limits on when agencies may use automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems, prescribes retention periods for ALRP data collected, and limits the sharing of ALPR data.

 

 Trudeau House Rules
SB 6080 (HB 2547) Concerning contracts between the United States and county and municipal jails for committing or confining individuals in federal custody. The bill makes acceptance of people in federal custody by local jails discretionary, require prior cost-covering contracts with the federal government except when a valid judicial warrant is present, and generally prohibits contracts to hold individuals transported across state lines without such a warrant. Cleveland House Community Safety

The Following Selected Bills Are No Longer in Consideration Because They Have Missed Policy Committee or Fiscal Committee Cutoffs

Bill # Short Description Sponsor Status**
HB 2173 (SB 5855) Concerning the use of face coverings by law enforcement officers. The bill prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings, while allowing limited exceptions for medical masks, undercover work and SWAT protective gear, and authorizing civil actions for violations. No longer in consideration – missed policy committee cutoff. Companion SB 5855 is still moving.

 

 Cortes House  Community Safety Committee
HB 2332 (SB 6002) Concerning driver privacy protections. The bill establishes comprehensive limits on when agencies may use automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems, prescribes retention periods for ALRP data collected, and limits the sharing of ALPR data. No longer in consideration – missed policy committee cutoff. Companion SB 6002 is still moving.

 

 Salahuddin House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee
HB 2547 (SB 6080) Concerning contracts between the United States and county and municipal jails for committing or confining individuals in federal custody. The bill makes acceptance of people in federal custody by local jails discretionary, require prior cost-covering contracts with the federal government except when a valid judicial warrant is present, and generally prohibit contracts to hold individuals transported across state lines without such a warrant. No longer in consideration – missed policy committee cutoff. Companion SB 6080 is still moving.

 

 Stonier House  Community Safety Committee
HB 2641 Prohibiting certain law enforcement agencies from hiring certain federal employees. The bill prohibits Washington general and limited authority law enforcement agencies, beginning October 1, 2026, from hiring individuals whose original appointment as sworn U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers occurred on or after January 20, 2025, while preserving the employment status of any former ICE officers already hired by Washington agencies before the act takes effect.  No longer in consideration – missed policy committee cutoff.

 

 Simmons House Community Safety Committee
HB 2648 Concerning state and local law enforcement interactions with federal immigration enforcement officials. The bill establishes specific duties for on-duty Washington peace officers to record, report, and document encounters when they have reasonable suspicion that an individual is a federal immigration enforcement agent conducting immigration enforcement activities, including activating available body-worn and dash cameras, immediately reporting the encounter to their employing agency so the agency can notify the community consistent with its policies, and subsequently documenting and reporting the contact while attempting to confirm the agent’s identity and avoid escalation. No longer in consideration – missed fiscal committee cutoff.

 

 Fosse House Appropriations
SB 5876 (HB 2165) Concerning false identification as a peace officer. The bill establishes the gross misdemeanor offense of False Identification as a Peace Officer and specifies how a person commits the offense. No longer in consideration – missed policy committee cutoff. Companion HB 2165 is still moving.

 

 Cortes Senate Law & Justice Committee

 
SB 5852 (HB 2105) Concerning immigrant worker protections. The bill requires employers to notify workers about federal immigration eligibility inspections and limit employers’ voluntary cooperation with federal immigration authorities (like ICE) absent a subpoena or judicial warrant. No longer in consideration – missed fiscal committee cutoff. Companion HB 2105 is still moving

 

 Saldana Senate Ways & Means Committee
SB 6109 Prohibiting investment of funds under management by the state investment board in private detention facilities. The bill requires the State Investment Board to halt new investments and fully divest by 2030 from entities tied to private, for‑profit detention facilities, while still meeting fiduciary and prudence standards for returns.  No longer in consideration – missed fiscal committee cutoff.

 

 Trudeau Senate Ways & Means Committee
SB 6286 Concerning the state’s ability to fine private detention facilities that deny entry to the department of health for an inspection. The bill authorizes the Department of Health to impose civil fines on private detention facilities that block state health inspections. The bill directs all fine revenue into a new account, which may be spent only after legislative appropriation and is limited to housing, food, legal, wage replacement, child care, transportation, direct financial compensation, and related assistance or grants to nonprofits serving individuals and families whose members have been wrongfully detained and released by a court, assaulted, or killed by federal immigration enforcement officers, without creating a state entitlement or admission of fault. No longer in consideration – missed fiscal committee cutoff. Orwall Senate Ways & Means Committee

*This is a partial list of the immigration related bills that have been scheduled for public hearing or are likely to be scheduled for public hearing in the 2026 Legislative Session.  For more information on bills before the State legislature please visit the Welcome to the Washington State Legislature website.

** Status as of March 2, 2026.

To receive email updates on committees, schedules, and other information from the Washington State Legislature, sign up for the Washington State Legislature GovDelivery service. It is recommended that you sign up for the following committees, at a minimum: House Community Safety Committee; House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee; House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee; House Appropriations Committee; House Rules Committee; Senate Law & Justice Committee; Senate Labor & Commerce Committee; Senate Human Services Committee; Senate Ways & Means Committee; Senate Rules Committee. Additional information on how to access the GovDelivery system and the Washington State legislative process is provided in “How to Get Involved and Stay Up to Date with Legislative Alerts” section of this web page and on the Washington State legislature’s website.

The Washington State Legislature meets each year to consider bills that may affect communities across the state. Residents can follow legislation, receive updates, and share input throughout the legislative session. Use the links below to learn how the process works and how to participate.

Understand the Process
Learn how a bill moves through the Legislature.

How to Read a Bill
Understand bill language, amendments, and bill reports.

Sign Up for Legislative Alerts (GovDelivery)
Receive email updates on bills and hearings.

Committee Sign-In (Testify or Note a Position)
Participate in hearings or submit comments.

Watch Legislative Meetings (TVW)
View live and recorded committee hearings and floor sessions.

Find Your Legislators
Locate contact information for your state representatives and senators.

Understand the Legislative Process

A basic understanding of the legislative process can help you participate more effectively.

You can learn more by:

  • Calling the Legislative Information Center at (360) 786-7573
  • Contacting your legislator’s office
  • Reviewing the “How a Bill Becomes a Law” and “How to Read a Bill” resources
  • Watching legislative meetings on TVW

Stay Up to Date with Legislative Alerts

The Washington State Legislature uses GovDelivery to send email notifications about legislative activity*. GovDelivery allows you to:

  • Follow specific topics, such as immigration or housing
  • Track individual bills
  • Subscribe to legislative committees
  • Receive alerts when hearings are scheduled or bills change
Sign up for GovDelivery

*These alerts are managed and sent by the Washington State Legislature, not the City of Tacoma.

Share Your Perspective on Legislation

The Legislature welcomes public input during the session. All formal participation takes place through the state’s Committee Sign-In (CSI) system. Through the CSI system, you may:

  • Note your position as Pro, Con, or Neutral
  • Submit written testimony for committee review
  • Provide live testimony, either in person in Olympia or remotely via Zoom
Access the Committee Sign-In System

Testimony Registration Deadlines

Public testimony registration typically closes one hour before the meeting begins. Committee schedules and hearing times may change quickly. Residents are encouraged to regularly review:

Immigration policy is addressed at both the federal and state levels, with different responsibilities for each.

U.S. Congress

The federal government has primary authority over immigration law. This includes setting national immigration policy, determining who may enter or remain in the country, administering visa and asylum programs, enforcing immigration laws, and overseeing federal immigration agencies.

Federal Lawmakers: Tacoma is represented by two U.S. Senators (statewide) and two U.S. Representatives (split by district). Find your Congressional District.

Name Role Phone Website
Patty Murray U.S. Senator (202) 224-2621 murray.senate.gov
Maria Cantwell U.S. Senator (202) 224-3441 cantwell.senate.gov
Emily Randall U.S. Representative (District 6) (202) 225-5916 randall.house.gov
Marilyn Strickland U.S. Representative (District 10) (202) 225-9740 strickland.house.gov
Find your federal lawmakers

Washington State Legislature

The Washington State Legislature may adopt laws and programs that affect how state agencies and public institutions interact with immigration issues. This can include access to state services, worker protections, licensing requirements, public safety policies, and the use of state resources

State Lawmakers (Olympia): The City of Tacoma is primarily served by the 27th, 28th, and 29th Legislative Districts. Find Your District: app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder. To contact any state legislator by phone, you can also use the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 (TTY for hearing impaired: 1-800-833-6388).

Get Involved in the Lawmaking Process. Discover how to track bills, attend hearings, and share your input with state legislators at leg.wa.gov/Participate.

District Name Role Phone Website
27 Yasmin Trudeau Senator (360) 786-7652 sdc.wa.gov/trudeau
27 Laurie Jinkins Representative/Speaker of the House (360) 786-7930 hdc.wa.gov/jinkins
27 Jake Fey Representative (360) 786-7974 hdc.wa.gov/fey
28 T’wina Nobles Senator (360) 786-7654 sdc.wa.gov/nobles
28 Mari Leavitt Representative (360) 786-7890 hdc.wa.gov/leavitt
28 Dan Bronoske Representative (360) 786-7958 hdc.wa.gov/bronoske
29 Steve Conway Senator (360) 786-7656 sdc.wa.gov/conway
29 Melanie Morgan Representative (360) 786-7906 hdc.wa.gov/morgan
29 Sharlett Mena Representative (360) 786-7996 hdc.wa.gov/mena

For information on additional state lawmakers, visit Washington State Legislature.

Find your state lawmakers

Frequently Asked Questions

No.  The NWIPC is a privately owned and operated facility.  The facility is owned by the GEO Group, Inc., which has a contract with ICE to operate the facility.

The City of Tacoma does not now, or in the past, have any contracts with the GEO Group, Inc. or the NWIPC to operate the facility.  The only agreement with the NWIPC is for the City to provide fire protection services to the facility.

The City of Tacoma generally does not have the authority to directly regulate or oversee the operations within the NWIPC.

In 2023, the Washington State Legislature passed 2SHB 1470, amending Chapter 70.395 RCW, giving the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) access to ensure private detention facilities comply with measurable standards providing sanitary, hygienic, and safe conditions for detained persons. This applies to both current and future private detention facilities operating in Washington.

According to the Washington DOH website, the agency has not been able to conduct inspections or investigations of the NWIPC due to ongoing litigation; however, the DOH is continuing to receive and refer complaints regarding the NWIPC in case they are allowed to conduct investigations and inspections in the future.

The DOH website has instructions on how to complete the Online Complaint Form.

In 2017, the land on which the NWICP is located was rezoned by the City Council to prohibit institutional facilities, including detention facilities. This made the current NWIPC non-conforming, meaning it can continue to operate but cannot be significantly expanded.  This zoning and regulatory change was legally challenged by GEO Group, but Tacoma prevailed in that litigation. Current zoning and regulations further limit the non-conforming use rights of facilities like the NWIPC by prohibiting any expansion of capacity/beds.

The Tacoma City Council has adopted the following resolutions that relate to immigration or the NWIPC:

  • Resolution No. 40636: Expressing support for those detained at the NWIPC; making recommendations to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department to advocate for protection against viral outbreaks; supporting the Federal Immigrant Release for Safety and Security Together Act (FIRST Act); and calling for parole and bond for those detained at the NWIPC.
  • Resolution No. 41378: Authorizing the one-time use of Council Contingency Funds, in the amount of $10,000, to Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest (AIDNW), to support access to phone services for detainees in the NWIPC.
  • Resolution No. 41757: Authorizing the one-time use of Council Contingency Funds, in the amount of $20,000, to Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest (AIDNW), to support access to phone services for detainees in the NWIPC.
  • Resolution No. 41627: Restricting City funds, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel from being used to investigate, enforce, cooperate with, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal registration or surveillance programs or any other laws, rules, or policies that target individuals in Tacoma solely on the basis of race, religion, immigration, or citizenship status, or national or ethnic origin.
  • Resolution No. 41817: Directing the City Manager to clarify the use of City-owned property for federal immigration enforcement operations as directed in Resolution No. 41627.
  • Resolution No. 41844: Directing the City Manager to create a webpage to share resources for immigrants, community members, and businesses related to immigration issues impacting residents of the City, including background on the City Council legislation in support of the City’s immigrant and refugee community and the City’s advocacy to restrict the use of for-profit detention centers; and directing the City Manager to create outreach materials and share this information with affected community members.

Despite significant budgetary constraints, the Council has provided funding for legal assistance with civil immigration matters.  The Council has provided funding to assist with access to phone calls for people who are detained in the NWIPC in the amounts of $10,000 in 2025 and $20,000 in 2026.  Additionally, the Council began providing funding for legal assistance for people who are detained in the NWIPC in 2019. The City has provided $25,000 in 2025 and $25,000 in 2026.

The City Council has advocated for state legislation to support our immigrant community, including, but not limited to:

  • SB 5497, the Keep Washington Working Act – passed in 2019. The bill ensures the state of Washington remains a place where the rights and dignity of all residents are maintained and protected to keep Washington working. The bill limits immigration enforcement to the fullest extent possible, consistent with state and federal laws.
  • HB 2640 -passed in 2020. The bill clarifies that facilities that are operated by a private entity in which persons are detained in custody under process of law pending the outcome of legal proceedings are not essential public facilities under the Growth Management Act.  This bill upholds local zoning decisions that would prevent expansion of current private detention facilities or future private detention facilities in the Tideflats area of Tacoma.
  • HB 1470 – passed in 2023. This bill requires the Department of Health to adopt rules regarding inspections, cleaning and sanitizing, laundry, personal hygiene, food and diet, room temperature, infection control, and water and air quality; and permits the Office of the Attorney General to enforce violations.
  • HB 2368 – passed in 2024. This bill authorizes the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to administer services to immigrants who are ineligible for federally funded services.
  • HB 1889 – passed in 2024. This bill allows persons to receive professional licenses and certifications regardless of immigration or citizenship status.
  • HB 1232 – passed in 2025. This bill modifies certain regulations related to operational standards for private detention facilities, inspections of such facilities, civil penalties for violations involving such facilities, and authorizes the Department of Health to inspect private detention facilities at any time for compliance with applicable state or federal law and take action against noncompliant facilities.

The City Council continues to support our immigrant community through the resolutions adopted by the Council, funding where possible, and continued advocacy at the state and federal levels.  The City Council has adopted several resolutions as identified above.  The Council has contributed funds to support individuals detained in the NWIPC to increase phone access and legal assistance.  The City is also providing information on resources and guidance through social media, the City webpage, and other outreach efforts to increase awareness of available resources.

Because of the very limited authority of the City Council in relation to ICE or the NWIPC, the Council has engaged in advocacy at the state and local levels where there is more authority over these federal operations.  The Council has written letters and engaged in conversations with our state and federal delegations to request assistance and support their efforts.  There are many actions at the state and federal levels that could provide more oversight and accountability at the NWIPC and support for our immigrant community if they are adopted.  The community can assist by advocating for these efforts through outreach and engagement at the state and federal levels to support the adoption of measures that provide greater oversight and accountability for ICE and greater protections for our immigrant community.

More information on the bills under consideration at the state level can be found on this webpage under the Government Relations and Bills section.  Contact information for state and federal elected leaders representing the Tacoma area can also be found in this section of the webpage.

The City cannot use its business licensing authority to close the NWIPC. The supremacy clause of the United States Constitution (Article VI, Clause 2) establishes that federal laws are the supreme law of the land and take precedence over state and local laws that conflict, obstruct or interfere with federal law.  There is long-standing precedent among the federal courts that state and local licensing requirements that obstruct, interfere with or target federal activities authorized under federal law are not enforceable against the federal government or its employees or contractors while engaged in those activities. This means that even if there is a violation of local regulatory requirements, the City of Tacoma cannot use its authority to require a business license to order the NWIPC to close.  Put simply, under the U.S. Constitution, federal operations take precedence over local regulations and Tacoma has no power to close the NWICP under its licensing authority.