U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood on Monday called conditions inside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview “terrible” and warned that staffing is expected to triple by January at ICE facilities in the Chicago area in anticipation of more immigration enforcement.
The congresswoman told reporters she saw no detainees, despite ICE having processed some people in the Chicago area this weekend. The ICE acting director told Underwood the last time anyone stayed overnight at the facility was “a couple weeks ago.” ICE officers told Underwood there were no detainees or staffers because they were “updating their systems and installing new security cameras.”
Underwood also staunchly warned that despite the departure of Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino from Chicago, targeted immigration operations in the area are not over.
“Border Patrol is not gone. Mr. Bovino might not be here now, but according to these folks today, ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ is still a joint operation between Border Patrol and ICE, and they have not received any instruction around an end date,” Underwood said. “…I would not make those assumptions that there’s any kind of delay or reprieve.”
U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials have insisted that “Operation Midway Blitz” would continue in Chicago, and a DHS source said about 100 agents would remain behind. The source also said 1,000 agents could return and hit the streets in March.
Underwood said the facility’s acting director, Samuel Olsen, is leaving his post this week and will be replaced by a new acting director who will be in charge of Broadview, the downtown processing facility, and overseeing a six-state region.
She also warned that staffing for Chicago area ICE facilities is expected to triple in the coming months — stemming from a $150 billion to $170 billion infusion of funding over four years to DHS from President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill.” Underwood said they are also pursuing contracts for temporary office spaces, potentially trailers near the Broadview facility.
“That money is being spent here,” Underwood said. “The staff footprint in this facility and downtown, the downtown processing center is slated to probably triple by January…They are increasing immigration enforcement at that rapid rate. The American people need to see what’s happening in our community and the conditions under which people are being kept.”
Underwood’s visit provides a behind-the-scenes look in what advocates and former detainees described as unsanitary and cramped, and what U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman even called a “prison.” Gettleman on Nov. 5 issued a 15-point temporary restraining order that calls for the federal government to improve conditions for detainees at the facility. The order addresses bedding, cleanliness, food, access to medications, access to lawyers and more. A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for Dec. 17.
Underwood described the holding cells as segregated by gender, with the largest cell holding 45 plastic chairs and three showers. She called conditions at the facility “terrible” and “not a place where you want to spend time.” Gettleman recently heard testimony about people being held there 100-150 to a cell.
“The shower works and then each holding cell had a toilet. The toilet was not in any way anything that any of us would be comfortable using, certainly not in an area that is open to others,” Underwood said. “There’s nothing at all comfortable. It does not meet what I would consider to be the minimum criteria for a detention cell.”
Underwood said ICE staffers made it clear “they are under no legal obligation to meet those criteria because this is not a detention facility — it’s a processing facility.”
Signs in English and Spanish said detainees could use a shower at least every other day upon request. The same sign said detainees could receive bottles of water for free with meals and upon request. She said detainees were being fed Subway sandwiches or food from Wal-Mart. The facility has no food vendors on contract and no medical contracts. She spotted one package of Huggies, some sanitary pads for women and foot powder.
Underwood said she has been trying to visit the facility since September. She said her visit was only granted after funding was restored after the government shutdown.
“I believe that the standards need to be improved, and I understand that there’s ongoing litigation that would then enhance those minimum standards, which we are monitoring very closely,” Underwood said. “I intend to be back to this facility, and I have made a request to visit all DHS facilities in Illinois and I look forward to the administration granting that request.”