Judge Sets Limits on Chicago-Area ICE Facility at Center of Illinois Protests

The Vagabond News – November 6, 2025

In a major development following months of public demonstrations, a federal judge has placed new restrictions on operations at the ICE detention facility in Kankakee County, Illinois — a site that has become the focal point of ongoing immigrant rights protests across the Chicago area.

Background: Mounting Pressure on ICE

The Jerome Combs Detention Center, operated in coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has faced intense criticism for alleged overcrowding, poor medical care, and violations of detainee rights. Civil rights groups and local officials have repeatedly called for the facility’s closure, arguing that it contradicts Illinois’ 2021 law banning private immigration detention contracts.

The Court’s Decision

U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer ruled on Wednesday that ICE cannot expand the number of detainees held at the Kankakee site and must submit to independent health and safety inspections every 90 days. The court also ordered ICE to improve access to legal counsel and halt any new intergovernmental service agreements without state approval.

“This ruling is not about ending enforcement,” Judge Pallmeyer stated. “It’s about ensuring that detention practices comply with constitutional standards and state law.”

Reactions From Both Sides

Advocates celebrated the decision as a step toward greater accountability.
“This is a victory for human rights and the people of Illinois who have been demanding transparency,” said Alejandra Gomez of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

ICE officials, however, expressed concern that the restrictions could impede federal enforcement operations. In a statement, the agency said it would “review the court’s order while maintaining its commitment to public safety and lawful immigration enforcement.”

The Broader Context

The case has reignited debate over the future of immigration detention in Illinois. Since the state’s private detention ban took effect, counties like Kankakee have continued to collaborate with ICE under federal contracts, raising legal and ethical questions now playing out in courtrooms and statehouses alike.

As community groups plan new rallies this weekend in Chicago and Joliet, the judge’s ruling may serve as a turning point — limiting ICE’s reach in Illinois while setting a precedent for similar challenges nationwide.

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Reported by The Vagabond News Editorial Desk