BROADVIEW, Ill. (WBBM Newsradio) – The Department of Homeland Security is pushing back against a lawsuit accusing federal agents of subjecting detainees to inhumane conditions inside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Broadview.
In a court filing spanning dozens of pages, U.S. attorneys denied allegations that detainees lack access to medical care and legal counsel, saying the facility meets federal standards. The filing comes ahead of a federal hearing set for Tuesday, where a judge could decide whether to impose changes or even shut down the facility entirely.
The Broadview center has been the focus of daily protests since the launch of an intensified deportation campaign in September. Activists say families regularly show up seeking information about detained loved ones and are met with silence.
“I want to stress the importance of why we are protesting,” said Melissa E., one of several activists who spoke at Monday night’s village board meeting. “There are families showing up daily to that facility trying to get information about their family members… we are concerned about the inhumane situation that these people are living in.”
Monday’s meeting ended abruptly for the second week in a row as protesters clashed with Mayor Katrina Thompson over the village’s handling of demonstrations and the removal of an aid tent near the ICE site.
“Broadview had taken down the lone beacon of hope in that dark corner,” protester Ian Perry said. “You left us defenseless and then you opened fire like cowards. Shame on you, Mayor Thompson and this entire board for allowing this to happen.”
Village officials defended their actions, saying the protest area had become unsafe and that tensions escalated when residents and demonstrators began shouting over one another.
The upcoming federal hearing will include testimony from two recently detained individuals, according to legal analysts, who say the judge has the power to halt local immigration enforcement actions if conditions are found unconstitutional.
A ruling could come as early as this week.