Federal judge issues tentative ruling ordering that immigrant detainees have access to legal counsel

"no beds, no showers, no heat, vending machine food at best."

"These are inherently coercive conditions,"

"Which heighten the necessity for access to counsel, unfettered."

"evidence shows detainees at B-18 are meeting with attorneys, they have access to counsel"

U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong issued a tentative ruling to extend a temporary restraining order requiring legal visitation seven days a week at the B-18 processing center. Attorneys for detainees allege the facility subjects detainees to inhumane conditions — no beds, no showers, no heat and limited food — that coerce individuals to self-deport and increase the need for unfettered counsel. The government contends detainees have met with attorneys and that conditions have normalized since summer protests against immigration raids. The court evaluated whether detainees' Fifth Amendment right to access counsel is being violated.

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