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Transgender Woman Detained in Male Unit at ICE Processing Center

May 22, 2026·Location: Tacoma, WA

Country of origin: Nicaragua

Jessica Crystal Lira, a 22-year-old transgender woman and Nicaraguan citizen, was re-detained by ICE on May 22, 2026 during a scheduled check-in and transferred to the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC) in Tacoma, Washington. Despite identifying as a woman, she was housed in a male detention unit, where she experienced verbal harassment and feared for her safety. She filed suit, captioned Lira v. Mullin, seeking emergency relief. The court granted her motion for a temporary restraining order, enjoining officials from housing her in a male detention unit or solitary confinement, and ordered that she either be moved to appropriate housing or released within 24 hours.

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