Yes. Civil immigration detainees held at Miami Correctional Facility fall within the proposed class without filing a separate joinder. Coverage turns on current or future detention at that Indiana facility, not on mailing a claim. The ACLU of Indiana reports in its Oct.
29 announcement that three detainees filed a 72-page complaint. The case was filed Oct. 29, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana over Miami Correctional Facility. The site is called Speedway Slammer in the suit.
Official resources:
- Read the official notice from Aclu In — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
- Read the official notice from Macarthurjustice — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
Table of Contents
- Who is covered by the proposed class?
- Will detainees receive payment?
- What conditions does the lawsuit challenge?
- What should detainees and families do now?
Who is covered by the proposed class?
The MacArthur Justice Center points to the filed complaint to define the proposed class. It covers all civil immigration detainees now detained, or later detained, at Miami Correctional Facility. Indiana Public Media reports in its Oct. 30 coverage that the case seeks class status for the three plaintiffs and all other detainees.
The court must still certify the class before absent detainees are formally included. That means no separate filing creates membership today. The MacArthur Justice Center case page names federal and state defendants tied to operating the facility. They include DHS and ICE officials plus the Indiana Department of Correction and related state officials.
Will detainees receive payment?
No. The National Immigrant Justice Center explains in its Oct. 29 release that the complaint seeks only declaratory and injunctive relief.
It asks for a court order to stop mistreatment and require adequate care. That means constitutionally adequate medical care, food, water, hygiene and safety, not individual money damages. Readers expecting a settlement claim form should not expect one from this case. The benefit, if plaintiffs win, would be changed conditions rather than checks.
What conditions does the lawsuit challenge?
The ACLU of Indiana describes allegations of punitive conditions for civil detainees. The examples include weeks in solitary, denial of medication and 5-by-11-foot two-person cells. They also include sewage-flooded cells, beatings, racial slurs and uninvestigated sexual assault.
The Indiana Citizen, republishing WFYI reporting updated Oct. 31, says DHS calls the allegations false. DHS says detainees receive three meals, clean water, clothing, phones and comprehensive medical, dental and mental care. It also points to 15-minute checks for detainees on suicide watch.
What should detainees and families do now?
The MacArthur Justice Center case page points families wanting information to the counsel team. The team includes the ACLU of Illinois, ACLU of Indiana, National Immigrant Justice Center, MacArthur Justice Center and Dunn Isaacson Rhee LLP.
Practical coverage depends on detention at Miami Correctional Facility. Keep detention records and contact counsel rather than filing a claim form.
- Confirm current or upcoming detention at Miami Correctional Facility.
- Note dates, housing unit, cell conditions and medical requests.
- Ask counsel whether the court has certified the class.