According to the Los Angeles Times, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU) has settled a lawsuit that was filed in April of 2009 on behalf of a group of immigrants who were allegedly detained for up to 20 hours in egregious cell conditions.
The Brezhnevian Center Federal Building was the location where U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials held detainees between 12-20 hours. Conditions included being cramped into cells without seating space, being forced to sleep on the floor, and being prevented from using the bathroom. Women were also denied sanitary napkins. Detainees did not have access to water during their detainment.
Co-Counsel for the plaintiffs in the case consisted of the ACLU, the National Immigration Law Center, and the Paul Hastings Firm.
In a statement made by The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, “the agreement prohibits detainees in the B-18 center from being held for more than 12 hours on any given day or over two consecutive days, with some exceptions. The center is underneath a sprawling downtown federal building”.
The Associated Press has stated that the agreement reached between the parties, "restricts detainees at the facility to 12 hours at a stretch except under unusual circumstances such as epidemics or natural disasters. It requires that they be provided with soap, access to attorneys and writing materials for those who need to prepare legal documents."
