Protesters rally against ICE outside Wyatt Detention Facility

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WLNE) — A crowd of over 100 people rallied Tuesday outside the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, where federal immigration detainees are held.

“ICE does not belong in this state,” Sophia Wright of Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance (AMOR) Rhode Island said. “There’s no reason for people to be held in detention while they’re fighting for their immigration cases.”

Tuesday night’s rally was organized specifically in support of three Laotian refugees, who advocates said were set to be transferred to another facility in Louisiana.

“We know that Louisiana is a lynchpin in this country’s immigration system,” Sarath Suong of Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM) said. “It’s where they put folks like Mahmoud Khalil.”

Khalil was the man who the federal government targeted for deportation because of his participation in pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University, despite him having a Green Card.

Protesters said a transfer to the Louisiana prison is often the last step before deportation.

“They have lived in Rhode Island and built a home here and built families for almost five decades,” Suong said. “They deserve a chance to stay with their family and they deserve not to be disappeared from our community.”

Organizers of the rally said the three Laotian men, Khek Choummala, Manoutham Phommachan and Vanhhatdy Souvannaxa, all had a previous criminal record.

ABC 6 searched their names in the both the federal detainee lookup and the state’s judicial portal, but could not find any record.

“They have already served their time,” Suong said. “So for folks who believe in the American justice system, they must also believe that serving your time means that you have done your rehabilitation.”

Advocates said they were also fighting for the release of a Dominican man, who was tased in Providence on April 24 and is believed to be staying at the Wyatt Detention Facility as well.

ICE said the man was living in the country illegally, had a previous record including domestic violence, and resisted arrest.

Video obtained by ABC 6 shows the moments he was taken into custody on Parade Street and the large law enforcement presence in the neighborhood.

“I hope for folks to be able to have enough humanity left to be able to see people,” Wright said. “And understand what it means for these families to be caught up in this system.”

Family members of the Laotian men called up to their loved ones from outside the facility.

ABC 6 reached out to the Department of Homeland Security about their cases Tuesday but did not hear back.