A detention center in McHenry County, Ill., must face a proposed class action alleging violations of a federal law by forcing immigration detainees to perform janitorial labor without compensation during their detention.
The Torture Victim Protection Act allows a victim to sue those who violate the forced labor provisions, including counties, the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois said on Monday, rejecting McHenry County Detention Center’s argument that the TVPA didn’t extend liability to local governments.
The plaintiffs also provided enough evidence to show that detention center officials obtained the cleaning services through the threat of inflicting ...