Central Falls mayor calls for prison shutdown after ICE detainees arrive

March 29, 2019 12:37 am

By Jordan Mazza

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WLNE) — Protesters Thursday night called for the shut down of ICE and the closure of the Wyatt detention facility, where ice detainees are currently being held.

Central Falls Mayor James Diossa declared he intends to do just that.

“The Wyatt needs to be shut down immediately,” the mayor said at an emergency meeting Thursday.

Diossa says the facility hasn’t generated revenue for the city in years, and he says he was shocked to learn of the ice detainees when they arrived March 10th.

“I never knew that they were bringing in inmates on this zero–based tolerance [sic] initiative by Donald Trump,” Diossa said. “No, I didn’t know that.”

But the former mayor of Central Falls, Thomas Lazieh, says Diossa was aware.

“Ice detainees are no surprise coming into the city,” said Lazieh, who currently serves on the city council. “It was announced last year. Every member of the corporation board of directors is appointed by the mayor.”

Lazieh says he does not support President Trump’s immigration policy, but does support Wyatt, which he approved while mayor.

Many in attendance at the meeting, however, say they want the facility gone.

One resident says immigrant families are expressing concern about ice operating in their own backyard.

“I cry with them,” said Maria Duque of Central Falls. “I always think of them all the time because we have many immigrant families. I am an immigrant myself, I was undocumented too, so I know that feeling.”

And groups opposed to the Wyatt and ICE say they are planning another march on Saturday.