Widow Of Chinese Detainee Wants Feds Kept In Suit

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) The widow of a Chinese immigrant wants the federal government to remain a defendant in her lawsuit over the death of her husband, who was detained at a Rhode Island jail.

Hiu Lui Ng (HYOO' lhoo ehng), who had lived in Queens, N.Y., died of liver cancer in August 2008 while he was being held for overstaying a visa. Investigators say he was abused and denied medical care at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls.

The private jail contracted with the federal government to house immigration detainees. The government has asked to be dismissed from the case, saying Wyatt staff were private contactors and not government employees.

But lawyers for Ng's widow say federal immigration authorities failed to act even after it became clear that Ng was being seriously mistreated.