The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has confirmed that GEO exploited detainee workers at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma. The private, for-profit company violated Washington’s minimum wage laws by paying detainees as little as $1 per day for essential tasks, including cooking, cleaning, and maintaining the facility.
Since 2005, GEO has relied on detainee workers for nearly all non-security tasks at the facility, which houses up to 1,575 immigrants awaiting court decisions. This labor practice enriched the company while violating state laws that require fair wages. The court’s decision upheld a 2021 jury verdict, which awarded $17.3 million in back wages to over 10,000 detainees and required GEO to pay the state an additional $5.9 million for unjust enrichment.
Attorney General Nick Brown emphasized the importance of the ruling, stating, “For-profit businesses in Washington must follow the same rules. If you employ workers, you must pay them fairly.” The court’s decision reaffirms that no federal law exempts private employers from paying minimum wages to workers performing essential tasks.
Lead plaintiff Goodluck Nwauzor, an asylum seeker from Nigeria, worked for $1 per day cleaning showers during his eight-month detainment in 2017. Nwauzor was later granted asylum and permanent residency. He represents thousands of detainees who suffered under GEO’s exploitative practices.
The Northwest ICE Processing Center has faced significant criticism over the years, including reports of poor living conditions, hunger strikes, and inadequate medical care. Two deaths occurred at the facility in the past year alone. Despite these controversies, GEO’s contract to operate the center, generating $57 million annually, continues through 2025.
This case highlights broader issues around immigrant detainee rights and labor justice. Organizations and policymakers must continue advocating for systemic change to ensure fair treatment for all workers, regardless of their circumstances.