Pop-up canopies, umbrellas, sunshades and similar temporary structures are allowed as long as these structures have no opaque walls, are for shade only, and are not anchored with stakes to avoid damage to the irrigation system.

These structures can be put up, effective immediately, on a first-come, first-served basis.

The authorization applies to the planting strip located adjacent to the Northwest Detention Center at 1623 East J Street. These structures are only allowed on that planting strip between the temporary fence and the sidewalk. These structures are not allow on the sidewalk, roadway, driveway or railroad right of way.

Given that the City has significant public health concerns associated with overnight stays at any location that does not include appropriate sanitation measures to protect the public health, safety and welfare, it is not the City’s intent to authorize these structures to be used for overnight stays.

Yes. Please contact the City Attorney’s Office at (253) 591-5885 for further information.

Yes. The Tacoma Police Department will not ask for the removal of any structures that meet the parameters of this authorization.

Located on Tacoma's Tideflats, the Northwest Detention Center is the fourth-largest immigration detention center in the country. People are held at the facility while undergoing immigration proceedings, potentially facing deportation.

Source: Washington State Office of Attorney General

The GEO Group, Inc. has operated the facility under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement since 2005. The Florida-based company has been in partnership with ICE since the 1980s and, in 2015, ICE renewed GEO's contract for Northwest Detention Center through 2025. Northwest Detention Center is one of 141 correctional and detention facilities operated by the company. 

Source: Washington State Office of Attorney General

The Northwest Detention Center has the capacity to house up to 1,575 immigrant detainees.

Source: Washington State Office of Attorney General

If you need information about a detainee that is housed at this facility, you may call the Northwest Detention Center at (253) 779-6000. When you call, please have the individual's biographical information ready, including first, last and hyphenated names, any aliases he or she may use, date of birth and country of birth.

Detainees cannot receive incoming calls. If you need to get in touch with a detainee to leave an urgent message, you must call (253) 396-1611 and leave the detainee's full name, alien registration number and your name and telephone number where you can be reached. The detainee will be given your message.

Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

“We respect our community members’ right to demonstrate outside the Northwest Detention Center. The issues at hand are deeply important, not just to our community members but to city hall as well. City officials and the Tacoma Police Department will continue to work with community members to ensure that they are able to exercise their First Amendment rights in a lawful and safe manner.”

The Tacoma Police Department did not ask people to leave who were demonstrating outside the Northwest Detention Center in a lawful and safe manner. However, the Tacoma Police Department did ask for the voluntary removal of the structures and materials that had been placed in this location so the public right-of-way remained free and clear of structures and obstructions for public use as required under the Tacoma Municipal Code.  These requirements are in place to protect public safety, which is particularly important in this case where large numbers of people are gathering in a confined space near an active rail line. The City’s practice of posting notice for 72 hours prior to homeless encampment cleanup has no application here, because this location is not being used as shelter for people experiencing homelessness and because of the immediate public safety concerns. 

According to the Tacoma Municipal Code, public right-of-way includes the area of land, the right to possession of which is secured by the City for right-of-way purposes and includes the traveled portion of the public streets and alleys, as well as the border area, which includes, but is not limited to, any sidewalks, planting strips, traffic circles, or medians. 

The public right-of-way adjacent to the Northwest Detention Center abuts an active railroad right-of-way that is privately owned and operated by BNSF.  This railroad right-of-way is not a part of the public right-of-way.    

The fencing is for the safety of all using the right-of-way. Train crews have expressed concern over the large numbers of people gathering in a confined space near an active rail line and the fencing was installed to protect their safety as well as their constitutional right to demonstrate. The fencing is situated eight feet from the tracks, which is the minimum safe distance required by BNSF, and it still allows space for demonstrations to occur.
 

It is the Tacoma Police Department’s mission to create a safe and secure environment in which to live, work, and visit by working together with the community, enforcing the law in a fair and impartial manner, preserving the peace and order in our neighborhoods, and safeguarding our constitutional guarantees. Commendations can be emailed to TPDcommendations@cityoftacoma.org.

Complaints can be emailed to TPD-IA@cityoftacoma.org. You can also call (253) 798-4722 at any time. Calls will be forwarded to an on-duty supervisor. Details on the Tacoma Police Department process for handling complaints is available online at: cityoftacoma.org/TPDcomplaintprocess.

If you feel that an ICE employee or contract services employee mistreated you and wish to make a complaint of misconduct, you may:

Contact the Field Office Director at:
Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
12500 Tukwila International Boulevard, 4th Floor
Seattle, WA 98168
(206) 835-0650

Write the Office of Professional Responsibility:
Director, Office of Professional Responsibility
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
P.O. Box 14475
Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20044

Contact the Joint Intake Center:
Phone Number: (877) 2INTAKE
Email: joint.intake@dhs.gov

You may also contact the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General:
DHS Office of Inspector General/MAIL STOP 0305
Attn: Office of Investigations - Hotline
245 Murray Lane SW
Washington, DC 20528-0305
Call: (800) 323-8603
​Fax: (202) 254-4297 

Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Members of the press should contact ICE Public Affairs at (206) 442-1450 for further information.

Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement