Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — A federal spokesman says about 150 detainees at Washington state's Northwest Detention Center refused to eat Monday morning as a hunger strike entered its fourth day.
Immigration detainees began the strike Friday. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has said any detainee who does not eat for 72 hours will be referred for medical evaluation and possible treatment. An ICE spokesman didn't immediately answer questions Monday morning.
Activists say the detainees are seeking better food and treatment as well as better pay for detention center jobs. At one point, about 750 of the center's nearly 1,300 detainees refused to eat.
Activist Maru Mora-Villalpando says she and others have received reports from detainees that they are being intimidated for participating. She says demonstrators are rallying outside the facility in Tacoma.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
