Florida Lawmakers Enter 'Alligator Alcatraz,' Find Detainees Crammed in Cages

A Harsh Reality in the Everglades

Deep within the delicate and dangerous Everglades, hundreds of migrants are being held in a makeshift tent detention facility. This facility, which has been labeled "Alligator Alcatraz" by some, is under scrutiny for its conditions. Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has called it "safe and secure," while Democratic lawmakers have described it as "inhumane."

Two days after filing a lawsuit against DeSantis for being "unlawfully denied entry" to inspect the facility, members of Congress and state representatives were given a limited tour. They had previously accused the governor of deliberately obstructing access to hide what's happening inside the facility. During the tour, they reported hearing detainees shouting for help and crying out "libertad," meaning "freedom" in Spanish.

Conditions Inside the Facility

During the tour, lawmakers observed that detainees are packed into cages, with 32 people per cage. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who represents Florida’s 25th Congressional District, noted that each cage contained three small toilets with attached sinks. These were used for drinking water and brushing teeth, with the same water used to flush the toilets.

In the kitchen area, officials were offered large pieces of roast chicken and sausages, while detainees received a "gray turkey and cheese sandwich, an apple, and chips." Wasserman Schultz expressed concern about the nutritional value of the meals, stating that it could leave detainees feeling hungry and affecting their mood.

Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost mentioned concerns about unhygienic conditions due to non-working toilets and reports of feces being spread everywhere. However, lawmakers were not allowed to view areas where migrants are currently detained. They were also denied access to medical facilities, citing HIPAA laws, despite being able to examine similar facilities elsewhere.

Political Disputes and Concerns

US Rep. Darren Soto highlighted evidence of flooding at the facility, raising serious concerns about the safety of detainees during a potentially busy hurricane season. He criticized the inspection as a "political stunt," claiming it was dangerous and wasteful.

The facility currently holds about 900 people, but it has the capacity to hold 3,000. Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, confirmed this.

Personal Accounts from Detainees' Families

The wife of a 43-year-old Guatemalan man detained at "Alligator Alcatraz" shared her husband's experience. After more than two weeks in detention, he had yet to see a lawyer. She described the conditions as harsh, with too many mosquitoes and power outages due to generator use.

Her husband was detained after a fishing trip in the Everglades when a wildlife officer asked for documents. While she and her baby, a US citizen, were released, her husband was taken into custody. He later told her about the lack of showers and insufficient facilities for washing hands.

The Rapid Construction of 'Alligator Alcatraz'

The facility was set up in just eight days, transforming the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport into a temporary tent city. President Donald Trump toured the site and praised its quick construction, using it as an example of what he wants to implement in other states.

The project was fast-tracked under an executive order from DeSantis, who framed illegal immigration as a state emergency. Despite these efforts, the facility remains under intense scrutiny for its conditions and treatment of detainees.