CHICAGO (AP) — A federal judge is expected to hear arguments Tuesday after Illinois groups filed a lawsuit against federal authorities, alleging inhumane conditions at an immigration facility in the Chicago area.
U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman has acknowledged the urgency of the case, calling for a quick hearing after plaintiffs described the situation at a facility in Broadview as a human rights emergency.
Advocates from the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and the MacArthur Justice Center reported that detainees are deprived of adequate food, clean water, and necessary medical care. They also claim that detainees are prevented from making private calls to their attorneys, and are coerced into signing documents, often relinquishing their rights without understanding the implications, which can lead to deportation.
Officials from the Homeland Security Department have rejected these claims, asserting that they have contributed to a rise in violent threats against immigration officers.
During a recent emergency hearing, Judge Gettleman ordered that lead plaintiffs Pablo Moreno Gonzalez and Felipe Agustin Zamacona, both long-time Mexican immigrants detained by ICE, be returned to the Chicago area as quickly as possible ahead of Tuesday's proceedings. Both Gonzalez and Zamacona were moved from the Broadview facility last Friday.
For months, advocates have highlighted concerning conditions at the Broadview facility, which has faced scrutiny from lawmakers, activists, and legal representatives. The facility has been described as a de facto detention center housing as many as 200 people at a time without sufficient access to legal counsel.
The controversies surrounding the center have sparked protests, leading to the detention of numerous demonstrators. This has also triggered a separate lawsuit alleging that federal agents infringed upon the First Amendment rights of protest participants by using tear gas and other forceful measures against them.
