Guatemalan immigrant transferred out of state overnight after 20 years in Rhode Island
Nov 1, 2025 · Providence, RI, Guatemala

A Guatemalan immigrant who lived in Providence for 20 years was detained by ICE in November 2025 and transferred without warning to a New Hampshire facility ten days later, separated from his lawyer and family. During the overnight transfer in a cramped van, he was handcuffed tightly enough to draw blood and exposed to winter cold. He was ultimately released on bond in late December. Immigration lawyers report that rapid transfers between facilities increasingly deny detainees access to legal counsel, with 12% of detainees experiencing at least four transfers in 2025.
Sources
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