CHICAGO (PulseWire) — A coalition of advocates including the ACLU of Illinois and the MacArthur Justice Center filed a lawsuit against federal authorities on Friday, alleging inhumane conditions at the Broadview immigration facility. According to attorneys, detainees at the facility are being denied private legal counsel, and non-governmental visitors such as members of Congress and journalists have been blocked from entering. This situation has created what they describe as a black box environment which allows federal authorities to operate without accountability.
Additionally, detainees have reportedly been coerced into signing paperwork they do not comprehend, which leads them to unknowingly waive their rights and potentially face deportation. Alexa Van Brunt, the lead attorney for the lawsuit, highlighted the severity of the claims, stating, community members are being kidnapped off the streets, packed in hold cells, denied food, medical care, and basic necessities, and forced to sign away their legal rights.
Representatives from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have not responded to requests for comments regarding the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges violations of the Fifth Amendment right to due process and the First Amendment right to legal counsel. Advocates are pushing for the court to mandate improvements in the conditions within the detention facility.
Concerns regarding the facility have been echoed by various groups, including members of Congress and activist organizations. Reports have indicated that up to 200 individuals have been held at the facility without access to legal resources, which advocates claim transforms it into a de facto detention center.
DHS has rebuffed these allegations, asserting that detainees receive proper meals, medical treatment, and communication with family members and lawyers. Furthermore, the facility has been the site of protests advocating for humane treatment of detainees, which have led to numerous arrests and a separate lawsuit claiming violations of protesters’ First Amendment rights.
Recent legal actions, including a ruling by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis, have mandated that federal agents wear identifying badges during protests and restricted the use of riot control techniques against peaceful demonstrators. Additionally, the requirement for body cameras has been instituted for agents with access to such devices.
