Rhode Island Facility Resumes Housing ICE Detainees

March 24, 2019

The Associated Press

A detention facility in Rhode Island is once again housing people detained by federal immigration authorities, a decade after a man's death there ended the practice.

Protesters display signs outside the Wyatt Detention Facility on April 28, 2009, where they gathered to urge federal officials against returning immigration detainees to the quasi-public prison. Jason Ng, a Chinese immigrant from New York City, died of cancer at the facility in 2008. (Steven Senne/AP) — Protesters display signs outside the Wyatt Detention Facility on April 28, 2009, where they gathered to urge federal officials against returning immigration detainees to the quasi-public prison. (Steven Senne/AP)

The Providence Journal reports the privately-run Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls said it received 133 detainees. The facility was responding to a query from the newspaper.

ICE spokesman John Mohan says its Boston office started using space in Central Falls for detainees March 10 and the facility will comply with rigorous detention standards.

In 2008, 34-year-old Hiu Lui "Jason" Ng died of advanced liver cancer while held there. ICE said in 2009 when ending its contract with Wyatt that an internal investigation found a lack of communication about Ng's health care needs.

The ACLU of Rhode Island expressed concerns about Wyatt housing ICE detainees again.

Rhode Island Facility Resumes Housing ICE Detainees

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