BROADVIEW, Ill. -- Four Illinois Democrats toured a federal immigration center outside Chicago on Monday, the latest members of Congress permitted inside immigration facilities following a federal judge's recent ruling that lifted restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on lawmaker visits.
Six months after being denied access, U.S. Reps. Danny Davis, Delia Ramirez, Jonathan Jackson, and Jesús Chuy Garcia visited the immigration processing center in suburban Broadview. The facility, operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has been criticized as a de facto detention center with conditions that many have deemed inhumane, particularly during an immigration crackdown that resulted in over 4,000 arrests in the Chicago area.
The visit lasted about an hour after the lawmakers spoke with a masked official at the entrance. We wanted to check whether there would be a violation of a court order reaffirming our right to be here at any time, for any reason, without advance notice, Garcia commented after the visit.
A federal judge recently blocked the Trump administration's policies that restricted congressional access to immigration facilities, a ruling stemming from a lawsuit filed by 12 Congress members challenging ICE's amended visitor policies after their repeated denials to enter detention facilities.
The lawmakers noted that their visit coincided with a slow day, with only two individuals in custody, compared to twenty the day prior.
During a peak period of the immigration crackdown known as Operation Midway Blitz, the facility held over 150 individuals at a time, leading to numerous complaints and even a court-ordered visit by a judge due to the troubling conditions.
While ICE officials stated improvements include access to hot meals and legal counsel, the lawmakers raised concerns about a lack of adequate medical staff, privacy in restrooms, and insufficient shower facilities.
“This visit will not end our responsibility. We’ll follow up,” Jackson affirmed, indicating the need for continued oversight of the facility.
In the broader context, similar visits to ICE facilities have been reported by House members elsewhere, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny of immigration enforcement practices and conditions at detention centers across the nation.
