SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford led a new law to restrict the construction, operation and placement of federal immigration detention facilities to locations no closer than 1,500 feet from designated protected sites, including educational institutions, child care facilities, places of worship and private residences.
“We need to keep places where children and families gather safe from federal interference,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “This law is Illinois telling the federal administration that we won't allow immigration enforcement to disrupt our communities.”
House Bill 5024 comes in light of federal immigration activity and enforcement that began in late 2025 in Broadview – a community Lightford represents – where Illinois’ only immigration detention center is located. Residents and immigrants detained in the Broadview Processing Center recounted inhumane conditions, poor ventilation and cramped cells, as well as civil rights violations, such as a lack of access to lawyers, leading to a plethora of protests led by community members outside the facility.
Lightford’s law prohibits the federal government from operating a new immigration detention center within 1,500 feet of certain locations, including schools, day care centers, cemeteries, public parks, public housing, private residences and places of worship, ensuring the chaos and trauma residents across Broadview faced during Operation Midway Blitz does not occur across other Illinois communities.
“While the federal administration keeps disrupting our neighborhoods, Illinois lawmakers are stepping up to protect residents,” Lightford said. "Communities are supposed to feel safe and supportive – but that's hard to promise when detention centers can be placed anywhere in our neighborhoods.”
House Bill 5024 was signed into law Friday.
