The widow of a Chinese man who died while in the custody of immigration officials at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island has filed a lawsuit against the jail and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The lawsuit alleges that Hiu Lui "Jason" Ng, 34, was mistreated and
denied proper medical care during his detention at the facility.
Ng was arrested in New York City in July, 2007 after reportedly overstaying his
visa. After complaining of severe pain for weeks, Ng was taken to Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where he was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer and a fractured spine. Ng died in of liver cancer in August 2008 just days after doctors finally
diagnosed his condition.
Jack McConnell, the attorney who filed the lawsuit on behalf Ng's widow, Lin Li Qu, said the immigration detention center treated him like he was an animal.
The lawsuit claims the staff at the detention center taunted and abuse Ng, accused him of faking an illness, and denied him the use of a doctor-authorized wheelchair. The lawsuit also states Ng had multiple bruises, the result of being dragged from his cell by corrections officers.
ICE spokesman Michael Gilhooly would not comment on the lawsuit, but said ICE's investigation found employees did violate ICE's national detention standards. After the investigation, all remaining immigration detainees at the center were pulled out.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
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