A person escaped from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Tacoma on Wednesday but was later arrested in Oregon, according to federal authorities.
Tacoma police spokesperson Sgt. John Correa said the department was notified by the Northwest ICE Processing Center around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday that a person in custody had escaped. ICE did not initially respond to questions about the circumstances.
Correa said staff at the detention center requested assistance from Tacoma police and officers did an area check in the vicinity in their patrol cars but did not find the person.
Shortly after, Correa said, officers left once they were told detention center resources would be handling the situation. Correa said the Tacoma Police Department was not involved further and is unaware of whether anyone remains outstanding.
On Saturday, ICE confirmed the alleged escapee, 24, a “criminal alien from Venezuela,” had been arrested by local authorities in Portland, Oregon. An ICE spokesperson noted the man had a previous convictions for felony use of a weapon and assault in Hillsboro, Oregon.
La Resistencia, a Pacific Northwest group that regularly protests against the detention center, said the facility shut down phone lines and prohibited movement inside Wednesday night. There was an unscheduled call for an emergency count, La Resistencia posted online, and people were not allowed to receive their medicine due to restricted movement.
On Friday, La Resistencia said in a statement that detained people have not been able to access the legal library, medical area, religious services or the yard, and the organization claimed one person who was denied access to his medication had to be taken to the hospital.
