Seattle Now Weekend Listen: Inside Tacoma’s ICE Detention Center
Nov 1, 2025
Liz Jones, a KUOW reporter, shares her impactful longform documentary about the Tacoma ICE detention center, highlighting one woman's struggle for freedom. The discussion covers the harsh realities of daily life behind bars, including the psychological toll of the trauma faced by detainees. Jones also delves into the legal challenges, the impact of federal policies, and how families cope with unexpected detentions. The podcast shines a light on community advocacy and the opaque processes that families navigate in pursuit of reunification.
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Worker Caught In Raid And Detention
- Espinosa was arrested in a workplace raid at Eagle Beverage while on a break and taken with other coworkers in shackles.
- She spent weeks in Tacoma's ICE detention center facing uncertainty and disrupted routines before her legal fight progressed.
Detention Is Expanding Beyond Criminal Cases
- Detention centers are filling with people who often have no criminal history as enforcement priorities shift.
- Plans to nearly double detention beds and faster enforcement are reshaping detainees' experiences and legal options.
Legal Help Vanished, Meetings Became A Bottleneck
- Cuts to federal grants ended regular legal orientation workshops in detention, making access to information scarce.
- Attorneys now must wait hours to meet clients, and detainees are far less likely to secure representation.
