Wyatt Detention Center: A Troubled History of Profit, Scandal, and Immigrant Detention

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The Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island has a long and troubled history as a semi-private, profit-driven immigration detention center. Opened in 1993 with the promise of economic benefits for the struggling city, the Wyatt has faced repeated scandals, including inmate deaths, escapes, and allegations of mistreatment. Despite public outcry and legislative efforts to reform or shut down the facility, the Wyatt continues to operate, with its bondholders wielding significant influence over its operations.

Why it matters

The story of the Wyatt Detention Center highlights the complex issues surrounding private prisons, the prison-industrial complex, and the treatment of immigrants in the U.S. detention system. It raises questions about the role of profit motives in incarceration, the accountability of public-private partnerships, and the human cost of prioritizing financial interests over humanitarian concerns.

The details

The Wyatt was established in 1993 after years of lobbying by then-U.S. Marshal Donald Wyatt, who argued that Rhode Island needed more federal detention space. The facility was created through a public-private partnership, with the Central Falls Detention Facility Corporation (CFDFC), a quasi-public entity, owning the Wyatt. However, the facility's operations have often been driven by profit motives, with one former CFDFC chair infamously stating he was running it "like a Motel 6." The Wyatt has faced numerous scandals, including inmate deaths, escapes, and allegations of mistreatment, particularly of immigrant detainees. In 2019, the facility's decision to resume housing ICE detainees sparked widespread protests and litigation, with the bondholders suing to keep ICE as a client despite public opposition.

• The Wyatt Detention Facility opened in 1993.
• In 2006, the Wyatt underwent a $106 million expansion, doubling its capacity.
• In 2008, an ICE detainee named Hiu Lui "Jason" Ng died in the custody of the Wyatt, sparking national outrage.
• In 2019, the Wyatt resumed housing ICE detainees, leading to protests and legal battles.
• Ongoing legislative efforts to reform or shut down the Wyatt have continued in the years since 2019.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Ongoing legislative efforts to reform or shut down the Wyatt Detention Facility continue, with bills introduced each year in the Rhode Island General Assembly. Additionally, the ACLU and other advocacy groups have pursued legal action to address issues at the facility, such as securing opioid treatment for detainees.