Lawyers don’t want possible witness deported

PROVIDENCE—A judge will hear arguments later this month on whether to block the deportation of a man who lawyers say would be a key witness in the case of a Chinese immigrant who died of cancer while in the custody of a privately run detention facility.

The wife and children of Hiu Lui “Jason” Ng sued the operators of the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls this week, alleging Ng, of Queens, N.Y., was denied medical care and abused by staff before his death.

Lawyers for the family say another inmate, Roger Gracias Lozano, witnessed much of the alleged abuse. They want a judge to block his pending deportation to El Salvador so he can testify.

U.S. District Judge William Smith was scheduled to hear arguments Thursday, but delayed the hearing until Feb. 26. Lozano will remain in the country until at least then.