CHICAGO (AP) — A federal judge is set to hear arguments on Tuesday following a lawsuit from Illinois groups who claim 'inhumane' conditions in a Chicago-area immigration facility. The case has been deemed a 'human rights emergency' by plaintiffs' attorneys, who represent detainees at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview.
U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman has scheduled the hearing, recognizing the urgency of the matter despite a rushed timeline. During a prior emergency session, he emphasized the need for immediate relief due to the nature of the allegations.
Attorneys assert that detainees within the Broadview facility are suffering from inadequate access to essential resources including food, water, and medical care. They also claim detainees are denied private communication with attorneys and coerced into signing documents they do not understand, risking their rights and facing potential deportation.
In response, officials from the Homeland Security Department have rejected these allegations, arguing that the claims have incited increased threats against immigration officers.
Judge Gettleman has ordered the swift return of lead plaintiffs, who were relocated on Friday, back to the Chicago area as the hearing approaches. The individuals at the center of the case, Pablo Moreno Gonzalez and Felipe Agustin Zamacona, are reported to be long-term U.S. residents who were detained last month.
The Broadview facility has also faced public outcry, resulting in protests that have drawn attention from Congress and activist groups. Advocacy for the detainees has intensified, with reports of up to 200 people being held without access to legal counsel in what critics describe as a de facto detention center.
The demonstrations are further complicated by a separate lawsuit from a coalition of news organizations and protesters alleging excessive force from federal agents who reportedly used tear gas and other measures against them.
