Detainee Hunger Strike In Tacoma Sparks Federal Bill

A hunger strike at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma recently ended after nearly two months, but the ripple effects continue. Congressman Adam Smith, D-Bellevue, plans to introduce a bill Thursday that would change how federal agencies operate and audit detention centers.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, oversees detention facilities. Smith says he sees a problem with a lack of federal oversight. It’s comparable to a politician writing his own performance review, Smith jokes.