Judge Orders ICE to Fix 15 Problems at Chicago-Area Facility Deemed Inhumane

A federal judge in Chicago on Wednesday ordered authorities to improve conditions at an immigration detention facility after detainees sued, alleging they were held in “inhumane” conditions.

The temporary order, which applies to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, a suburb west of Chicago, will remain in effect for 14 days. It requires officials to provide detainees with clean bedding and adequate sleeping space, along with soap, towels, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, menstrual products and prescribed medications.

Under the order, ICE officials at the Broadview facility must:

• Provide every detainee held overnight with clean bedding and adequate space for sleeping.
• Clean each holding room at least twice a day.
• Install or provide a visible clock showing the current time and date in each room.
• Supply detainees with soap, towels, toilet paper, and oral-hygiene items.
• Provide menstrual products to all who need them.
• Offer showers at least every other day in sanitary facilities.
• Serve three complete meals per day that meet U.S. dietary standards.
• Provide drinking water with every meal and bottled water upon request.
• Ensure access to prescribed medications and allow family or counsel to drop off needed medicine.
• Maintain proper storage for medications that require refrigeration or special handling.
• Give each detainee free, private telephone access to communicate with attorneys.
• Protect the confidentiality of attorney-client communications.
• Provide a list of pro bono immigration lawyers in English and Spanish, along with interpreter services when needed.
• Ensure all detainees are accurately listed in the ICE Online Detainee Locator System, showing their correct location.
• Translate all documents given to detainees into Spanish and refrain from misrepresenting their contents.

This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.