The shadow over Chicago: How Homan Square exposes the rot of government corruption

By willowt // 2025-03-18

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Homan Square, a Chicago Police Department facility, has been exposed as a "black site" where detainees were allegedly subjected to torture, unlawful detention and denial of constitutional rights, drawing comparisons to CIA black sites used in the War on Terror.
New evidence reveals the DOJ was not only aware of Homan Square's operations but actively participated in investigations involving alleged torture, implicating federal agencies in systemic abuses.
Between 2004 and 2015, an estimated 7,000 people were detained at Homan Square, with only 68 granted access to attorneys or public notice of their whereabouts. Detainees reported beatings, threats and denial of basic rights, with at least one death occurring in custody.
Homan Square reflects the broader trend of police militarization in the U.S., with the facility housing military-style equipment and interrogation cells, raising concerns about the normalization of extreme practices in domestic law enforcement.
Despite widespread evidence of abuse, Homan Square remains operational, with increased federal funding approved in 2021. Activists and officials continue to demand justice, transparency and accountability to address systemic failures and restore the rule of law.

In the heart of Chicago, a city already infamous for its political corruption and violent crime, lies a facility that embodies the worst excesses of government overreach and abuse. Homan Square, a nondescript warehouse in the city’s West Side, has long been a symbol of unchecked power and the erosion of constitutional rights. But new revelations suggest that the scandal runs deeper than previously imagined—implicating not just the Chicago Police Department (CPD), but the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) itself. This is not just a local scandal; it is a national disgrace, a chilling reminder of how far government agencies will go to evade accountability.

A decade of darkness: The Homan Square scandal

In 2015, The Guardian exposed Homan Square as a “black site” where detainees were allegedly subjected to torture, unlawful detention and denial of basic constitutional rights. The facility, described as a domestic equivalent of CIA black sites used in the War on Terror, became a flashpoint for outrage. Activists and politicians demanded answers, but the DOJ—tasked with upholding the rule of law—chose to look the other way. Instead of investigating Homan Square, the DOJ launched a broader inquiry into the CPD’s use of force practices, leaving the facility’s abuses shrouded in secrecy. Now, a decade later, Homan Square remains operational, and new evidence reveals that the DOJ was not just aware of the facility’s existence—it was actively involved in its operations. This revelation raises troubling questions about the complicity of federal agencies in systemic abuses and their willingness to turn a blind eye to violations of civil liberties.

The DOJ’s dirty hands: A federal cover-up

One of the most damning cases to emerge from Homan Square involves Angel Perez, who alleges he was tortured by CPD officers in 2012. Perez claims he was handcuffed to a bar, shackled and subjected to horrific abuse, including the insertion of a cold metal object into his rectum. He was coerced into cooperating with a drug investigation targeting Dwayne Payne. While Perez’s lawsuit initially implicated only the CPD, a 2022 court order reveals that the investigation was a joint operation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO), an arm of the DOJ. The DOJ’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was also involved. This means that the DOJ not only knew about Homan Square but actively participated in investigations that allegedly relied on torture. As former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin, who pushed for a DOJ probe into Homan Square, told Noir News: “Then the DOJ failed the community. They failed the person who made the allegation. And they failed the country. They failed to do their job.”

A pattern of abuse: Thousands disappeared

Perez’s case is not an isolated incident. Between 2004 and 2015, an estimated 7,000 people were detained at Homan Square, with only 68 granted access to attorneys or public notice of their whereabouts. Detainees have reported being handcuffed for hours, denied food, beaten and threatened with violence. One man, John Hubbard, was found unresponsive in an interview room and later pronounced dead. These abuses are not the actions of a few rogue officers; they are the result of a systemic failure enabled by both local and federal authorities. The DOJ’s involvement in Homan Square is further evidenced by court documents and depositions. In a 2019 court order, a U.S. District Judge noted that federal law enforcement officers “regularly visited Homan Square.” A deposition from a CPD officer revealed that federal agents used the facility for interrogations, often under the supervision of Assistant U.S. Attorneys. This collaboration between local and federal law enforcement underscores the extent to which Homan Square was integrated into the broader justice system.

The militarization of policing: A dangerous precedent

Homan Square is not just a local anomaly; it is a microcosm of the broader trend toward the militarization of policing in America. The facility houses military-style vehicles and interrogation cells, evoking comparisons to overseas black sites like Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib. As criminologist Tracy Siska warned, “The real danger in allowing practices like Guantanamo or Abu Ghraib is the fact that they always creep into other aspects. They creep into domestic law enforcement, either with weaponry like with the militarization of police, or interrogation practices. That’s how we ended up with a black site in Chicago.” This militarization is not limited to Chicago. Across the country, police departments have acquired surplus military equipment through federal programs, blurring the line between law enforcement and military operations. Homan Square is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by this trend, particularly when combined with a lack of transparency and accountability.

A call for accountability: The fight for justice

Despite the mounting evidence of abuse, Homan Square continues to operate, and federal funding for the facility has even increased. In 2021, U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley secured $500,000 in federal funding to support “enterprise investigations at Homan Square.” This funding was approved years after the facility’s abuses were exposed, raising questions about the priorities of our elected officials. The fight to shut down Homan Square and hold those responsible accountable is far from over. As Boykin aptly put it, “Ultimately, we hope we get justice and we hope that those abuses aren’t taking place today. At Homan, or at any police facility.” But justice will require more than hope; it will require a concerted effort to expose the truth, demand accountability and restore the rule of law.

A national scandal

The Homan Square scandal is not just a Chicago problem; it is a national crisis. It exposes the rot of government corruption, the erosion of constitutional rights and the dangerous collusion between local and federal law enforcement. As conservatives, we must stand against this abuse of power and demand transparency, accountability and respect for the rule of law. The shadow over Chicago is a shadow over all of us, and it is time to bring it into the light. Sources include: TheGrayZone.com TheGuardian.com Justice.gov