Saturday, Jul 12, 2025

Trapped in Alligator Alcatraz: Migrants Suffer in Florida’s Harshest Detention Center

Churches and lawyers demand immediate closure

PHOTO: Screenshot of CTV News X Account.

In the heart of the Florida Everglades, some 80 kilometers west of Miami, the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center was erected in record time. This makeshift facility was built in just eight days on the site of the former Dade-Collier airport. The site, surrounded by alligators, pythons and panthers, was touted as a “temporary and efficient” solution to house up to 5,000 migrants detained after recent raids.

However, its isolated location and the extreme climate of the region – temperatures above 40°C and humidity close to 90% – make it a high-risk location, especially during hurricane season.

Migrant testimonials

Alligator Alcatraz
PHOTO: Screenshot of Natasha’s X Account.

Since its opening on July 2, 2025, dozens of detained migrants have reported subhuman conditions inside Alligator Alcatraz.

Many report not having been able to bathe for several days, lacking basic hygiene products such as soap or toothbrushes, and receiving only one sandwich a day.

Others report sleeping under tents with wet floors, surrounded by mosquitoes, without access to adequate ventilation or electricity when generators fail.

Migrants with legal status, such as DACA recipients or those with temporary permits, have also been detained without explanation or immediate access to legal assistance.

Some lawyers report that their clients are held incommunicado for days, with no right to calls or visits, and no access to medical care or religious services.

There have even been reported cases of migrants having bibles or religious objects confiscated.

Complaints from the religious community

PHOTO: Shutterstock

Criticism has not been slow in coming.

The Archdiocese of Miami and the Diocese of Venice called Alligator Alcatraz “corrosive” and “inappropriate”.

For the Catholic leaders, the use of a hostile environment as a means of deterrence is immoral and against human dignity. They also expressed concern for the safety of detainees in the event of a natural disaster, due to the precariousness of the temporary structures.

Dozens of detained migrants have reported inhumane conditions

QuéOnnda.com

State legislators and the mayor of Miami-Dade have demanded immediate access to the facility.

As well as the creation of an independent monitoring team and a clear evacuation plan.

So far, state authorities deny the allegations, claiming that Alligator Alcatraz “meets the necessary standards,” but have restricted entry even to official observers.

Inhumane treatment and rights violations

Alligator Alcatraz
PHOTO: Screenshot of Devin Duke’s X Account.

Immigration lawyers claim that the treatment at Alligator Alcatraz violates multiple civil and human rights.

From poor food to the use of buckets as toilets to the lack of basic medical care, the testimonies describe a systematic pattern of neglect.

In some cases, migrants have gone for days without drinking water or access to medication for chronic conditions.

Geographic isolation prevents regular contact with lawyers and family members, hindering the legal defense process.

This physical barrier has generated concern among human rights defenders, who believe that the center was designed precisely to limit transparency and external monitoring.

For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.

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