Yesterday, Representative Rick Larsen toured the privately-run ICE detention facility in Tacoma and met with Lelo Juarez, and today he released the following statement:

"During my tour of the privately-run ICE detention facility in Tacoma, I saw the kitchen, the law library, the medical facilities and the housing pods.

"More than 1,500 people are currently detained in the Tacoma facility - that's more than twice as many as the start of the year. The facility has not staffed up sufficiently to provide basic services to the people being held there.

"After the tour, I met with Lelo Juarez, a Northwest Washington state community member who has been detained since March. Lelo is an activist, a union leader, and a husband.

"I shared with him how the Skagit County and broader Northwest Washington community has rallied around him to fight for his future. He asked for my help to be able to visit with his family in the same room, and I am working to make that possible.

"I will continue to work with Representative Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, to ensure people detained by ICE receive basic services and have the opportunity to exercise their constitutional rights."

Watch Rep. Larsen's full comments about the tour here.

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