Rhode Island's Attorney General has ruled the operators of a federal immigration detention facility in Central Falls violated the state's open meeting laws in approving a $1.5 million loan at an emergency meeting.
The Providence Journal reports Attorney General Peter Neronha's office determined Friday that the Central Falls Detention Facility Corporation's reason for the January emergency vote did not constitute an "unforeseen circumstance."
The corporation's board had said the loan was needed shore up finances for the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility during the partial federal government shutdown. The city filed an Open Meetings Act complaint with Neronha's office in response.
The corporation declined to comment. Central Falls City Solicitor Matthew Jerzyk said the city hopes the January vote is rendered null and void.
