Illinois Congress Members Denied Access to ICE Facility

Four Illinois Democratic representatives were denied entry to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility in Broadview on Wednesday. Representatives Danny K. Davis, Jesús García, Delia Ramirez, and Jonathan Jackson attempted to inspect the facility but were informed by an agent that they needed to make a prior request. Representative García stated that congressional authority should permit their inspection without prior scheduling.

The congressional visit occurs amid increased immigration enforcement actions under the current administration. Similar attempts at facility access have been reported elsewhere, including an incident where Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi and Jackson were asked to leave an ICE office in Chicago. In a separate incident, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was reportedly arrested at an immigration court, while House Speaker Mike Johnson toured a Chicago field office.

Advocates from immigrant rights organizations have raised concerns about conditions within the Broadview facility. They report that some detainees are sleeping on floors, receiving cold food, and lacking shower access. Additionally, they claim people are being held for multiple days in a facility designed for processing that typically takes only hours, potentially violating established protocols.

Illinois operates under the Way Forward Act, enacted in 2021, which prohibits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal deportation authorities. This state legislation means Illinois does not maintain immigration detention centers, resulting in detainees typically being transported to facilities in neighboring states. Representative García asserted that current practices constitute violations of established law.