‘Unlivable conditions': Detainees at Alligator Alcatraz allege abuse, neglect; families, legal advocates demand facility's shutdown
Legal advocates and families of detainees are demanding the closure of the Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" detention facility amid mounting allegations of abuse and inhumane treatment.
At a press conference outside the facility on Tuesday, speakers decried the conditions as cruel and dangerous. 'Detention conditions are unlivable,' said Tessa Petit, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, as quoted by NBC News.
Multiple detainees held at the Everglades site described mosquito-infested, cage-like units lit round the clock with fluorescent lights. They reported poor sanitation, limited food, and inadequate access to medical care.
'I feel like my life is in danger,' said Juan Palma, a detainee who spoke from inside the facility in Spanish. He described being housed with 32 others in cage-style units where detainees are allowed to shower only every three to four days.
Another detainee, Rafael Collado, recounted his experiences via phone during the press conference. 'It's like a dog cage,' said Collado, a Cuban national who was detained for two weeks.
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He described developing foot fungus from floodwater, lack of hygiene, and strip searches during transfers. His account , according to NBC News, was abruptly cut off when a guard reportedly ordered him to hang up.
His wife, Sonia Vichara, explained that Collado had been regularly checking in with immigration authorities when he was unexpectedly detained during a routine ICE visit in Miramar. 'He did made a mistake, but he paid for it for 10 years,' she said, referring to his past criminal record.
Palma's wife also acknowledged his previous convictions- including grand theft, credit forgery, and battery- but insisted he had served his time.
Petit argued that detainees' criminal histories do not justify current conditions. 'We are talking about exposing people to illnesses and even to their death. That is a human rights violation, doesn't matter if you are an immigrant,' she said.
The growing concerns at Alligator Alcatraz come as immigration detention populations hit record highs.
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), daily detainee counts nationwide surpassed 56,000 as of June 20, a 40 per cent jump from the same period in 2024. HRW noted that 72 per cent of these individuals have no criminal record.
A report released by HRW on Monday highlighted 'abusive practices' across three Florida detention centres between January and June. It cited interviews with current and former detainees, legal consultations, and data analysis, documenting 'dangerously substandard medical care, overcrowding, abusive treatment,' and barriers to legal access.
Detainees were said to be sleeping on concrete floors without bedding and consuming poor-quality food.
NBC News reported similar conditions at facilities in California, Texas, Louisiana, Washington, and New Jersey, where detainees experienced illness and insufficient food.
Tuesday's press conference also featured Janeisy Fernández Díaz, the mother of detainee Michael Borrego Fernández. Representing her son, who is a plaintiff in an ACLU lawsuit, she declared, 'I want this place to close.'
The lawsuit, filed by four detainees and their attorneys, alleges that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) obstructed legal access and subjected detainees to 'harsh and inhumane conditions.' According to Borrego Fernández, he receives just one meal per day, must eat quickly, and is confined to tent cages with minimal access to showers. He reported violent guards and lack of medical attention.
Florida Immigrant Coalition spokesperson Thomas Kennedy said Borrego Fernández's 17-day detention raised serious concerns about operational standards at the state-run federal facility.
The facility's nickname, "Alligator Alcatraz", was originally coined by Republican leaders but has been widely adopted by critics.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin denied the allegation regarding conditions at the facility in a statement to NBC News, asserting that detainees receive proper meals, medical care, and can contact family and lawyers. She added that ICE is expanding capacity to avoid overcrowding.
Meanwhile, Mothers, spouses, and legal advocates are now urging accountability. 'That is a human rights violation,' Petit reiterated, warning that the conditions inside Alligator Alcatraz may already be placing lives at risk.
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