Ban on Private Prisons (H 5785, H 5786, S 408, S 410, S 646)

Prompted by the re-entrance into an agreement with ICE by the Wyatt Detention Center, a number of pieces of legislation have been introduced with the intention of barring private prisons from operating in the state of Rhode Island entirely and limiting the ability for carceral facilities in Rhode Island to cooperate with ICE. We supported this step towards state disentanglement from federal immigration enforcement, referencing our prior lawsuit against the Wyatt after an ICE detainee died in custody following months of medical neglect and abuse. These bills died in committee.