PHOTOS: Busy Night at Wyatt Detention Facility - Protests and New Chair Elected

PHOTOS: Busy Night at Wyatt Detention Facility - Protests and New Chair Elected

It was a night of protest and major moves by the board of the Wyatt Detention Facility.

The controlling corporation which is officially named the Central Falls Detention Facility Corporation, and whose purpose is to oversee the Wyatt Detention Facility, met on Wednesday, and while facing protestors, it voted to elect James Lombardi, Esq. CPA as the new Board Chairman. 

Lombardi is an Attorney and Certified Public Accountant with a background in budgeting, finance, debt workouts, and governance issues. He is the City of Providence's Treasurer and he is a member of the North Smithfield School Committee.

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In addition, the board voted to approve a forbearance agreement with the facility’s bondholders and to extend the contract of Warden Daniel Martin for two years, with an option for an additional two years.

In the audience was former State Representative Aaron Regunberg and RI ACLU Executive Director Steve Brown.

See Photos in the Slideshow Below

Central Falls Detention Facility Corporation Board Chairman James Lombardi offered the following statement:

“I want to welcome everyone to this public meeting of the Central Falls Detention Facility Corporation.  I want to thank Mayor Diossa, the Central Falls City Council and this Board to have the confidence to elect me as Chairman.  I would like to be clear that this board is made up of people that are responsible to the community and deeply care about all of the detainees that are housed in this facility.  We are not a private for-profit corporation. The Wyatt Detention Facility is a non-profit, quasi-public facility created by Statute.

I understand that some of you want the Wyatt shut down and I will tell you that is simply not an option.  We are under court order to operate and take ICE detainees. 

Some of you would like to disrupt the board and possibly frustrate us enough to quit or not hold public meetings, I would argue this is a big mistake.  This board is accountable to the public and if we are not here, a trustee in receivership will operate this facility without any public input.  Public input is something we support and encourage.      

Many of the things that people are here to object to are beyond our control and although we want to hear your objections, there is nothing we can do to change federal immigration policy or the federal court order we are subject to.

I have personally toured the facility with Warden Martin, and can assure you that all detainees are being treated humanely, and have access to all of the legal, health care, and religious services they are required to be afforded.

We have ideas on how to restructure the Wyatt and we will need support from you to accomplish this new vision.  One of the only ways we see a resolution to this situation is with help from all parties.  We need to pay off our bondholders and they need to take less than the outstanding amount that they are due.  We will need Federal, State, or City help to back the floating of a bond for the fair market value of this facility.  Once we establish a positive cash flow, we can then be more selective on detainees and restructure the Wyatt.  Wyatt is an economic generator for Central Falls and the State of Rhode Island.  It provides a much needed service to allow detainees’ access to the Rhode Island Federal Courts.  It employs 271 staff with quality jobs.   

We hope that on all sides there is not another occurrence like what happened on August 14th.  We welcome your public comment and support your right to protest.  However, we ask that everyone please remain respectful and refrain from intentionally disrupting this public board meeting.  We further ask that your peaceful protests do not interfere with the operation of this detention facility.  We have a highly qualified Warden and management.  We have highly trained correctional staff who understand the rights of the detainees they are entrusted to supervise and insure they have these rights met.  I was impressed with the operations when I toured the facility.    

Following a 15 minute public comment period, the board will be discussing a forbearance agreement.  There will be a vote on the forbearance agreement this evening up or down.

With that, I would like to open the floor to public comment.”

GoLocalProv's Richard McCaffrey was there to cover the event. 

See Photos in the Slideshow Below