BROADVIEW, Ill. (AP) — Four Illinois Democrats toured a federal immigration center outside Chicago on Monday, the latest members of Congress allowed inside immigration facilities after a judge last week lifted Trump administration limits on lawmaker visits.
Six months after they were denied access, U.S. Reps. Danny Davis, Delia Ramirez, Jonathan Jackson, and Jesús “Chuy” Garcia entered the immigration processing center in suburban Broadview. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, criticized as a de facto detention center with inhumane conditions, has been at the forefront of an immigration crackdown resulting in more than 4,000 arrests in the Chicago area.
The Associated Press observed the lawmakers enter the boarded-up brick building after talking to a masked official at the door and then leave about an hour later.
“We wanted to test whether or not there would be a violation of a court order reaffirming that we have the right to be here at any time for any reason, without advance notice,” Garcia said afterward.
A federal judge last week temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing policies that limit congressional visits to immigration facilities. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by 12 members of Congress who sued in Washington, D.C. to challenge ICE’s amended visitor policies after they were denied entry to detention facilities.
During their visit, the Illinois lawmakers reported that Monday appeared to be an atypical day with only two people in custody. A day earlier, there had been 20, according to Garcia.
In the past, during the height of the immigration crackdown dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz,” more than 150 people were held at the facility, raising significant concerns about conditions. Reports indicated numerous complaints and a lawsuit led to a federal judge ordering a court-ordered visit to the center. Illinois does not have an immigration detention center.
Since then, immigration officials have said they’ve made changes and those held at the Broadview center have access to hot meals and legal counsel. However, the lawmakers raised concerns about inadequate privacy for toilets, limited showers, and the absence of medical staff on site.
“While we noted some improvements, we still saw areas of concern that need addressing,” Jackson stated. Ramirez emphasized the troubling absence of medical professionals, especially in light of a recent incident where a detainee died at an ICE facility in Michigan.
Following the court ruling, other House members also visited ICE facilities, with U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi reporting back that overnight holding at the Broadview site seemed to have ceased, despite previous efforts to gain access. Similar visits were held in New York where lawmakers reported inadequate conditions for detainees in an ICE facility.
The Illinois lawmakers confirmed that their responsibilities do not end with this visit, stating they are committed to following up on the issues raised about the treatment of those in detention. A request for a statement from ICE was not immediately returned.
Six months after they were denied access, U.S. Reps. Danny Davis, Delia Ramirez, Jonathan Jackson, and Jesús “Chuy” Garcia entered the immigration processing center in suburban Broadview. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, criticized as a de facto detention center with inhumane conditions, has been at the forefront of an immigration crackdown resulting in more than 4,000 arrests in the Chicago area.
The Associated Press observed the lawmakers enter the boarded-up brick building after talking to a masked official at the door and then leave about an hour later.
“We wanted to test whether or not there would be a violation of a court order reaffirming that we have the right to be here at any time for any reason, without advance notice,” Garcia said afterward.
A federal judge last week temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing policies that limit congressional visits to immigration facilities. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by 12 members of Congress who sued in Washington, D.C. to challenge ICE’s amended visitor policies after they were denied entry to detention facilities.
During their visit, the Illinois lawmakers reported that Monday appeared to be an atypical day with only two people in custody. A day earlier, there had been 20, according to Garcia.
In the past, during the height of the immigration crackdown dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz,” more than 150 people were held at the facility, raising significant concerns about conditions. Reports indicated numerous complaints and a lawsuit led to a federal judge ordering a court-ordered visit to the center. Illinois does not have an immigration detention center.
Since then, immigration officials have said they’ve made changes and those held at the Broadview center have access to hot meals and legal counsel. However, the lawmakers raised concerns about inadequate privacy for toilets, limited showers, and the absence of medical staff on site.
“While we noted some improvements, we still saw areas of concern that need addressing,” Jackson stated. Ramirez emphasized the troubling absence of medical professionals, especially in light of a recent incident where a detainee died at an ICE facility in Michigan.
Following the court ruling, other House members also visited ICE facilities, with U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi reporting back that overnight holding at the Broadview site seemed to have ceased, despite previous efforts to gain access. Similar visits were held in New York where lawmakers reported inadequate conditions for detainees in an ICE facility.
The Illinois lawmakers confirmed that their responsibilities do not end with this visit, stating they are committed to following up on the issues raised about the treatment of those in detention. A request for a statement from ICE was not immediately returned.
