Federal judge Gustavo Gelpí confirms that inmates will no longer be transferred from the United States

Federal judge Gustavo Gelpí confirmed this afternoon that no more inmates from the United States will move to Guaynabo Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC, in English) after denouncing more than a week ago that a group of prisoners arrived with COVID-19 without having coordinated with local authorities.

“It was agreed that no more federal prisoners will be transferred to MDC Guaynabo in Puerto Rico until the federal court so requests”, he indicated in written statements sent to The new day.

The decision was made at a meeting with the head of the federal prosecution in Puerto Rico, Stephen Muldrow; federal prosecutor Wilmer Ocasio, judge Aida Delgado Colón and court clerk María Antongiorgi. Antonio Torres was also representing the office of the Federal Marshals Service in Washington DC

As of Thursday last week, nine inmates had been reported testing positive for the virus’s molecular test. All were transported to the island without prior notice in a group of 54 inmates.

“We are still waiting for the molecular results of other prisoners who arrived at MDC from the continent”, Gelpí stressed.

In this situation with the prisoners, Governor Wanda Vázquez requested yesterday Through a letter sent to Muldrow, information on the protocols for handling federal inmates.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of State, Elmer Román, alerted in the same letter that he feared that an increase in cases in federal prison could have repercussions on the state health system.

“If these inmates worsen, they will end up in our state health system and that is why we are very clear that we cannot receive positive inmates to COVID-19”Román affirmed.

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