Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility
Central Falls, Rhode Island · 13 well-documented stories
What stands out here
Conditions that appear in a larger share of this facility's stories than of facility stories in general. Stories run from Mar 2025 to Oct 2026.
Nothing stands out against facilities in general; the most documented conditions here:
- Force on family or bystanders8% vs 2%
Physical force was used on a relative, child, observer, or bystander, not only the arrest target.
- No bed, sleep, or basic hygiene8% vs 5%
Slept on the floor, no bed or blanket, lights on all night, no shower, no toilet access, or similar.
- Shackled or chained8% vs 6%
Shackled, chained, zip-tied for long periods, restrained during transport or medical care, or held in a restraint chair.
share of stories hereacross all facilities
Everything the stories describe here
- Force on family or bystanders · 1 story
Physical force was used on a relative, child, observer, or bystander, not only the arrest target.
- No bed, sleep, or basic hygiene · 1 story
Slept on the floor, no bed or blanket, lights on all night, no shower, no toilet access, or similar.
- Shackled or chained · 1 story
Shackled, chained, zip-tied for long periods, restrained during transport or medical care, or held in a restraint chair.
- Extreme heat or cold · 1 story
Held in a freezing or dangerously hot space (hieleras, no heat, no air conditioning in summer).
In their words
“The idea that people are being detained and arrested at the Tweed Airport should be repulsive to anybody who lives in our community. We don’t want ICE here. We want them gone. It’s instilling fear across communities irrespective of immigration status,”
Stories
Nancy M.: Mother handcuffed by ICE in front of her children, deported to MexicoNancy Martinez, 37, a factory worker in New Haven for 15 years, was handcuffed in front of her children, including her autistic son, then deported to Mexico. She now sues ICE while calling her kids daily from abroad.New Haven, CT · Oct 11, 2026 · CT Insider, NBC Connecticut, CT Mirror +6
Deng D.K.D.: SCSU basketball player arrested by ICE at airport checkpoint, held 12 daysDeng Dhieu Kuach Deng, 19, a freshman basketball player from South Sudan, was handcuffed at a Connecticut airport TSA checkpoint while heading to visit his girlfriend, and held 12 days before release.“The idea that people are being detained and arrested at the Tweed Airport should be repulsive to anybody who lives in our community. We don’t want ICE here. We want them gone. It’s instilling fear across communities irrespective of immigration status,” — Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law CenterNew Haven, CT · Sep 28, 2026 · New Haven Independent, CT Mirror, Patch +3- Gustavo Henrique P.: Man held by ICE at Wyatt without legal authorityA man held at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility was ordered released after a court found immigration officials used the wrong law to justify his detention. He must get a bond hearing within ten days.Central Falls, RI · Aug 25, 2026 · CourtListener
- Jesus Alberto S.P.: Man held by ICE at Wyatt detention center without bond hearingA man held at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility won release through a habeas petition and was granted a bond hearing to be held within ten days.Central Falls, RI · Aug 18, 2026 · CourtListener
- Guinel L.: Man held unlawfully by ICE at Rhode Island's Wyatt Detention FacilityA noncitizen who had lived in the U.S. since 2024 was held at Rhode Island's Wyatt facility after an interior arrest. A judge ruled the detention unlawful and ordered his release.Rhode Island · Jul 30, 2026 · CourtListener
Chansareth H.: Cambodian refugee caring alone for autistic son detained at ICE check-inChansareth Hong, 50, a Cambodian refugee and sole caretaker of his autistic 9-year-old son, was detained during a routine check-in he had kept for 28 years, prompting hundreds to protest.Providence, RI · Jul 23, 2026 · Providence Journal, Boston Globe, Palos Verdes Eye +2
Seyo C.: West Hartford restaurant owner with work authorization detained by ICESeyo Cecunjanin, a West Hartford restaurant and laundry owner employing 15 people, was detained for about 12 days after being arrested in front of two of his sons, then released following pressure from Connecticut lawmakers.West Hartford, CT · Jul 3, 2026 · CT Mirror, CT News Junkie, Spot On Connecticut +8- Bernard K.: Asylum seeker who fled religious persecution arrested by ICE at Portland homeA Burkina Faso asylum seeker legally admitted in 2021 was arrested at his Portland home and sent to a Rhode Island facility; a court has temporarily barred his removal.Portland, Maine · Jun 30, 2026 · CourtListener
- Billy B.B.: Congolese corrections officer with work permit detained by ICE at homeBilly Bassikissa Bounguiena, a Cumberland County corrections officer with a valid work permit, was detained at his South Portland home. County officials dispute ICE's claim he has a criminal record.South Portland, ME · Jun 11, 2026 · Press Herald, Maine Public, WMTW
Bryan G.: 27-year-old man ordered back into ICE detention one week after releaseBryan Rafael Gómez, 27, was freed from a Rhode Island detention facility after officials withheld a homicide warrant from the Dominican Republic. He disappeared, and a judge later ordered him re-detained.Providence, RI · May 5, 2026 · WPRI, Boston Globe, Yahoo News +2
John D. and Mike D.: Lao brothers deported after months in ICE custodyJohn Detsavanh, 52, and his brother Mike Detsavanh, 50, were barbers in Providence held for months at the Wyatt Detention Facility before being deported, leaving Rhode Island's Lao community reeling.Central Falls, RI · Jan 20, 2026 · News from the States, Rhode Island Current, The Public's Radio +1
Guatemalan immigrant handcuffed until he bled in overnight ICE transferA Guatemalan immigrant who lived in Providence for 20 years was woken at 3 a.m. and transferred overnight to New Hampshire, handcuffed tightly enough to draw blood in winter cold. He was later released on bond.Providence, RI · Nov 1, 2025 · Northeast News Collaborative, Ocean State Media
Fabian S.: Green card holder and father of 8-year-old held two months by ICEFabian Schmidt, a German-born electrical engineer and green card holder, was held two months after being detained at Boston's airport. He has since married his partner and is pursuing citizenship.Boston, MA · Mar 14, 2025 · WGBH, NBC News, New Hampshire Review +2
Where people stood at the latest report
Each square is one percent of these stories. Read it with care: people who are still detained or already deported have far less access to reporters and lawyers than people who were released, so this mix reflects who gets covered more than how cases end.
- Deported 15%
- Still detained 31%
- Released 54%