Immigrants held at the federal Broadview ICE facility say they're trapped in a "black box" where they're denied access to lawyers, medicine, and even basic human rights. The conditions are reportedly dire, with overcrowding, poor food, inadequate sleeping quarters, and no showers or hygiene products. Many detainees have been held for days on end, far exceeding the intended few hours.
Lawyers representing immigrant detainees at Broadview have filed a lawsuit against top Trump administration officials, accusing them of intentionally creating inhumane conditions. The lawsuit claims that federal officers are coercing people into signing immigration paperwork without understanding its implications, preventing detainees from seeing an immigration judge before being deported, and holding immigrants without bond to prevent their attorneys from intervening.
Attorneys also struggle to locate their clients due to the inaccurate ICE detainee locator system. Families of detained immigrants have reported difficulty searching for loved ones, only to receive a general notification that they are in ICE custody with a phone number to call.
The lawsuit alleges that similar conditions exist at immigration facilities across the country, including overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, inadequate food and water, and substandard medical care. The Trump administration's handling of immigrants has sparked numerous lawsuits accusing the government of violating laws and its own policies.
Records show that despite being designed as a temporary processing center, Broadview has operated as a detention center for extended periods, with some detainees held for over three days. Local congressional members and clergy have also been denied entry to the facility, despite laws allowing access and rules guaranteeing detainees' right to practice their faith.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, the MacArthur Justice Center, and the Chicago office of Eimer Stahl are among organizations representing immigrant detainees at Broadview. Their efforts highlight the need for humane treatment and access to legal counsel in immigration detention centers.
Lawyers representing immigrant detainees at Broadview have filed a lawsuit against top Trump administration officials, accusing them of intentionally creating inhumane conditions. The lawsuit claims that federal officers are coercing people into signing immigration paperwork without understanding its implications, preventing detainees from seeing an immigration judge before being deported, and holding immigrants without bond to prevent their attorneys from intervening.
Attorneys also struggle to locate their clients due to the inaccurate ICE detainee locator system. Families of detained immigrants have reported difficulty searching for loved ones, only to receive a general notification that they are in ICE custody with a phone number to call.
The lawsuit alleges that similar conditions exist at immigration facilities across the country, including overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, inadequate food and water, and substandard medical care. The Trump administration's handling of immigrants has sparked numerous lawsuits accusing the government of violating laws and its own policies.
Records show that despite being designed as a temporary processing center, Broadview has operated as a detention center for extended periods, with some detainees held for over three days. Local congressional members and clergy have also been denied entry to the facility, despite laws allowing access and rules guaranteeing detainees' right to practice their faith.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, the MacArthur Justice Center, and the Chicago office of Eimer Stahl are among organizations representing immigrant detainees at Broadview. Their efforts highlight the need for humane treatment and access to legal counsel in immigration detention centers.
I'm so worried about these people being held in such awful conditions. It's like they're just numbers, not human beings 
. The fact that lawyers are having a hard time even getting to their clients is insane. And the locator system sounds like a nightmare - how can families even try to find out if their loved ones are safe? 
. And to think that this is part of the Trump administration's policies... it's just heartbreaking.
. The fact that multiple lawsuits have been filed already suggests that we're seeing some pushback, but I think more needs to be done. We need to make sure that our immigration system is treating people with dignity and respect, not locking them up in tiny cells like animals 
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. We need more advocates like them pushing for change. This isn't just about immigrants - it's about basic human rights that we should all be able to expect, no matter where we come from 
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This is absolutely horrific what's going on at that facility. It's like they're treating people as numbers not human beings 
. I mean, no showers? No hygiene products? That's just basic human decency 
. And the fact that lawyers can't even meet with their clients because of a broken system is just insane 
. It's like they're intentionally trying to break people's spirits and deny them their rights 
.
. We need to be talking about this and demanding change ASAP 
. The government needs to step up its game and start treating people with dignity and respect 
. We can do better than this, we have to do better than this 
.
. And the lawyers who are fighting for these people's rights are doing it all on their own dime 
. It's not right, it's not fair, and we need to make some noise about it 
. We owe it to ourselves, our communities, and the immigrants who are being held in these facilities 
.
I mean, no surprises here... a "black box" where people are treated like cattle 
? That's not exactly what I'd call humane treatment 
. And it's only when lawyers and organizations get involved that things start to heat up 
. It's like they're expecting people to just magically appear in these detention centers without any oversight 
. And the Trump administration's response? 
.
. The fact that similar conditions exist at other facilities across the country just means we're not seeing the whole picture 
. I'm all for making sure our borders are secure, but not at the cost of basic human dignity 
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I mean, they're literally being held in a "black box" without basic human rights?! No showers, no hygiene products, overcrowding... it's like, totally unacceptable! 
I'm all about that #JusticeForImmigrants vibe right now! We gotta stand with those families who are struggling to find their loved ones and make sure they get the help they need. This lawsuit is a major step in the right direction, but we can't let up until change happens! 
what's the point of even having a system if it's just gonna break down like this? we need to start holding our leaders accountable for this kinda stuff, can't just sit back and let people suffer like this 
Like, how can we just ignore our human rights? And it's not just the ppl, but also their families who are suffering too... 
I mean, I know we gotta follow laws and all that, but come on, there's gotta be a better way! 
The fact that lawyers can't even get in touch with their clients is like, insane! 
What are we gonna do about this?! Can someone pls just step in and fix it?! 
. it's no wonder ppl are taking the ACLU to court, because clearly, the system has failed miserably 
. I don't think it's cool that families are having to search for their loved ones online without any information about where they are... my cousin actually has an aunt who's going through this right now 
. Anyway, it just shows how important it is to have organizations like the ACLU and MacArthur Justice Center representing these people 
what's wrong with a simple locator system? 
How can we expect these people to have a fair chance of building new lives if they're not even given basic human rights? 
the fact that lawyers are struggling to find their clients cuz of a faulty system is just insane 
. lawsuits r needed ASAP to hold ppl in charge accountable