Detainees at the Whipple Federal Building brought in by federal immigration agents must be allowed access to an attorney and private phone calls and be informed of their rights within an hour of arriving, a federal judge ordered Feb. 12.

“Within one hour of detention and prior to being transferred out of the Whipple Federal Building, detainees shall be provided free, private and unmonitored access to the telephone,” reads a temporary restraining order.

The order also guarantees weekday access to in-person attorney visits and advance notice of any transfer out of state, which cannot happen within the first 72 hours of detention.

The case was brought by two noncitizen detainees and a nonprofit supporting them, the Advocates for Human Rights, which sued the Department of Homeland Security over allegations of constitutional violations at Whipple.

“Plaintiffs ... have presented substantial, specific evidence detailing these alleged violations of the United States Constitution,” wrote U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel. “In response, defendants offer threadbare declarations generally asserting, without examples or evidence, that ICE provides telephone access to counsel for noncitizens in its custody.”

The temporary restraining order will remain in effect until Feb. 26.

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