As civil libertarians decry increased US government surveillance of US citizens as part of the war on terrorism, a prisoner at the Adult Correctional Institutions' Intake Service Center in Cranston says he was put in segregation for 15 days because of his wife's involvement in a demonstration.

Aderson Cesar, a 30-year-old Haitian native, says he was placed in segregation on September 21 while members of Direction Action for Rights and Equality (DARE) protested outside the ACI, demanding improved conditions for Immigration and Naturalization Service detainees and changes in immigration laws.

While being handcuffed to be taken to segregation, Cesar says, a prison guard told him he was being punished because he'd been overheard saying his wife had advance knowledge of the protest. Cesar says he asked the guard, "Are you serious?" "Serious as cancer," the guard responded, according to Cesar.

As part of a crackdown on immigrants with criminal convictions, Cesar -- who has already completed his sentence for a 1992 conviction for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon -- has been held at the ACI for 16 months while the INS seeks to deport him to Haiti (see "Forgotten men," News, August 9).

Department of Corrections spokesman Al Bucci confirms that Cesar was held in segregation for 15 days, but he says the action was unrelated to the DARE demonstration. Prison officials received a tip that Cesar might be involved in illegal activity, Bucci says, reading from a report, but the warden concluded that he was not guilty and released him from segregation without charging him with an offense.

While in segregation, Cesar says, he lost his $1-a-day prison job and his personal belongings. He was given a different job after filing a grievance with prison officials, but Cesar says he was kept in his cell during the work period and subsequently fired for refusing to work. Prison jobs are desirable because they enable prisoners to leave their cells and earn a little money for purchases at the prison canteen. Cesar was also given $20 for his lost belongings.

The situation comes as supporters of Amer Jubran, a Palestinian activist who lives in Cumberland, say the INS detained him in retaliation for participating in demonstrations against Israeli government policies.

Issue Date: November 29 - December 5, 2002