Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson Demands Transparency and Accountability After Broadview Visit and South Loop ICE Denial

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BROADVIEW, IL — Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson stood shoulder-to-shoulder with his colleagues in the Illinois Congressional Delegation for a critical, on-the-ground visit to the Broadview Processing Center. This wasn't just a routine stop; it was an urgent mission to pull back the curtain on its operations and confront the profound concerns gripping our community.

This visit comes just hours after Congressman Jackson and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi were forcefully denied entry yesterday, June 17, 2025, to an ICE facility in the South Loop. That audacious denial, widely reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, exposed a shocking lack of transparency and raised alarming questions about "scammy" texts allegedly luring vulnerable individuals into what became immediate detention.

"Let me be crystal clear: our patience for secrecy and stonewalling has run out!" declared Congressman Jackson. "Our visit to Broadview today was absolutely essential, a vital step in our unyielding fight for transparency and accountability in our immigration system. As elected officials, it is our sacred duty to witness these facilities firsthand, to look into the eyes of those being processed, and to ensure that operations align with every fiber of our American values and uphold the inherent dignity of every single human being. What we faced yesterday in the South Loop—being actively barred from performing congressional oversight—is an outrage. It doesn't just underscore the urgent need for open access; it demands immediate answers from ICE regarding their deplorable practices and the well-being of those trapped in their custody!"

Following the Broadview visit, Congressman Jackson joined a powerful press conference, standing united with his fellow delegation members and impassioned community leaders. Held outside Iron Workers Local 63 in Broadview, this was our moment to lay bare initial observations and to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to forging humane and effective immigration policies.

Congressman Jackson spoke with fervor alongside a formidable lineup of voices for justice: Rep. Chuy García, the tireless Lawrence Benito of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee

Rights (ICIRR), the steadfast Rep. Danny Davis, the courageous Rep. Delia Ramirez, and a dedicated representative from the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC).

"The Illinois Congressional Delegation stands united, our resolve unbreakable, in our fight for a fair and just immigration process," Congressman Jackson passionately affirmed. "We will not rest. We will work tirelessly with our colleagues and community partners to confront every challenge we witnessed today, to champion comprehensive reforms that place human rights and due process above all else, and to demand, unequivocally, the transparency that was so shamelessly denied to us yesterday!"

Today's visit to Broadview, coupled with the scandalous events of yesterday, ignites a fierce resolve within the Illinois Congressional Delegation. We are fully engaged, our hearts burning with the urgency to confront the critical issues facing our constituents and our nation, especially when it comes to the shadowy corners of ICE facilities in the Chicago area.

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