Overview
- An interfaith group seeking to pray and offer communion inside the Broadview facility was turned away and instead held a brief service outside.
- In a statement, DHS described Broadview as a field office for short-term processing where in-office religious services are not standard practice.
- The agency said prior attacks and safety threats at the site necessitate limits on in-person religious visits at this time.
- Clergy say they previously received routine access, which they report ended after the fall enforcement ramp-up that has produced more than 4,300 arrests.
- Courts and lawmakers have flagged conditions and oversight issues, with a November order mandating basic remedies and recent reports noting detainee counts ranging from two this week to roughly 140 at peak.