GEO Group Says ICE To Decide On Booster Shots For Detainees

Those detained at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma have yet to hear when they might receive their COVID-19 booster shots.

A Christopher Ferreira, spokesperson from GEO Group who operates the center, emailed that medical services are provided directly by the federal government through the ICE Health Service Corps, and decisions for COVID-19 booster shots for those detained would be made by ICE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

On whether or not GEO Group is requiring employees to get vaccinated, the spokesperson wrote, quote:

“As a federal contractor providing support services on behalf of multiple federal agencies, we are working to comply with the President’s Executive Order on Ensuring Adequate Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors. This includes implementing a vaccine requirement, in accordance with the Administration’s Safer Federal Workforce Task Force, for employees working on or in connection with a federal contract.”

ICE public affairs officer David Yost responded in an email Friday that the only information they could provide was on ICE’s coronavirus webpage, which does not specifically address vaccines for those detained.