Latest news with #FernandoArtese
Washington Post
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Detention of two Italians at ‘Alligator Alcatraz' sparks backlash at home
The detention of two Italian nationals at 'Alligator Alcatraz,' the new immigrant detention center in Florida's Everglades, is sparking criticism from lawmakers in Italy, who are calling on their country's conservative government to speak out. Gaetano Mirabella Costa and Fernando Artese are being held in 'inhuman and degrading' conditions at the facility, Laura Boldrini, a lawmaker with the opposition Democratic Party, said on social media, pushing for the men to be repatriated. Angelo Bonelli of the Green Europe party said the two Italians had been 'locked in cages, without access to a lawyer, deprived of dignity, water and decent food.' Former prime minister Matteo Renzi, now a senator who leads the Italia Viva party, accused Giorgia Meloni's government of deference to President Donald Trump rather than acting to 'defend the rights of an Italian citizen.' Meloni, Italy's most right-wing leader in decades, has one of the better relationships with Trump among European leaders. The Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Homeland Security Department spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed in an email that the two Italian nationals were being held at the facility. Florida officials and Republican lawmakers who have visited the facility have disputed reports of poor conditions there. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has ramped up arrests in recent months, as Trump seeks to fulfill his campaign promise of mass deportations. The crackdown has prompted concern about civil rights violations and detainees held in substandard conditions. 'Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, if you break the law, you will face the consequences,' McLaughlin said in an emailed statement. 'Criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S.' According to McLaughlin, Costa overstayed a B2 tourism visa for almost seven years. Artese entered the United States using the visa waiver program, which authorized a stay of about three months, but he remained in the country for about a decade, she said. DHS said they had both been arrested for alleged criminal offenses but did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on whether either had been convicted of a crime. The detention facility, dubbed Alligator Alcatraz by Florida Republicans and the Trump administration, opened July 3 in the state's wetlands and could house thousands of migrants this year, according to officials. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) seized the infrequently used Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in South Florida last month for the state to set up what he called a 'makeshift detention space' with tents for detainees, sleeping pods for guards and generators for power. Detainees and former guards told The Washington Post last week that deliveries of drinking and bathing water were inadequate, the tents covering detainees' chain-link cells did not keep out rainwater and the facility was infested with mosquitoes. In a lawsuit filed last week, immigrants rights advocates alleged detainees had been blocked from accessing attorneys, according to a news release from the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. Stephanie Hartman, spokeswoman for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, disputed the accounts and said the facility was in 'good working order.'
CNN
21-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Families of Italian nationals held in Alligator Alcatraz plead for their release
Two Italian nationals living in the United States are among the inmates currently being held at the ICE detention center known as 'Alligator Alcatraz' in Florida, according to Italy's foreign ministry. Fernando Eduardo Artese, 63, and Gaetano Cateno Mirabella Costa, 45, were both sent to the facility, said to be surrounded by alligators, on immigration violations. Italy's foreign ministry confirmed to CNN that the two men were being detained in the US, but would not give any further details, citing privacy reasons. The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has not publicly commented on the case or the conditions people are being kept in at the controversial facility. In 2024, Italy built migrant deportation centers in Albania, which were ultimately blocked by the courts because of questions over human rights issues. Italian opposition politician and former speaker of the house Laura Boldrini has been leading calls for intervention by Meloni and her Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. 'Is all this normal and acceptable for Giorgia Meloni? What does she intend to do to get the two Italians out of that hell? If they don't have the right to remain in the US, they will be repatriated, but subjecting them to these brutal conditions is Unacceptable,' Boldrini posted on X Monday. Questions during a parliamentary session regarding potential intervention also went unanswered. The US Department of Homeland Security confirmed both men were detained in the makeshift facility in the Florida Everglades. 'Both of these criminal illegal aliens are being detained in Alligator Alcatraz. Under President (Donald) Trump and Secretary (Kristi) Noem, if you break the law, you will face the consequences. Criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the US,' DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in the statement. Artese's daughter Carla Artese says her father, who is a dual Italian-Argentinian citizen who worked as a security camera technician, had been living legally in the US since 2018 under the Visa Waiver Program. Fearful that a new clampdown would lead to his arrest, Artese decided to repatriate to Europe later this year, his daughter said. Artese was stopped on June 25 while driving with his family in a camper van. He had the intention of leaving the US and driving to Argentina. The family had planned to document the journey on a YouTube channel called 'Argentinomades' according to Carla Artese, who is planning to start university in Spain, where she was born, in the fall. But her father was stopped during a routine traffic stop and officers found an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court for a driving violation, Carla Artese said. He was then detained and sent to 'Alligator Alcatraz' a week later. DHS said Artese overstayed his visa by 10 years. 'He entered the US (on) the Visa Waiver Program on February 8, 2015, and was authorized to remain in the country until May 7, 2015. On June 26, 2025, Martin County Sheriff's Office arrested Artese for having an outstanding warrant relating for failure to appear in court for a criminal offense,' McLaughlin said in the statement. 'This year, we were trying to leave the USA, and ICE got him and sent him to Alligator Alcatraz, where they treat them like criminals and have no rights,' Carla Artese wrote on a fundraising page. 'They haven't given him any information about his case or any right to an attorney. Not to mention, they haven't added him to the system yet, so he doesn't even appear like an inmate anywhere. He wants to self-deport when they let him, which he also would have to pay for the ticket.' The money raised is for an attorney to help free her father. 'He is a loving husband and dad. He has provided for all of us since day one. He is a father figure to me and many of my friends. He is a hard worker who only wanted to leave the country with his family after paying taxes and working hard the whole time he's been here!' Artese described 'Alligator Alcatraz' as 'a concentration camp' in an interview earlier this month with the Tampa Bay Times. 'They treat us like criminals, it's a pursuit of humiliation. We're all workers and people fighting for our families.' Meanwhile, Mirabla Costa spoke with Italy's state broadcaster RAI by phone over the weekend, describing the dire situation. 'We are literally caged, like a chicken coop. There are 32 of us in a cage, the bathrooms are open and everyone sees you,' he said. 'I don't even have the chance to speak to a lawyer, or a judge. Get us out of this nightmare.' Mirabella Costa served six months in jail for domestic violence against his American ex-wife and for possession of prescription drugs and was arrested upon his release by ICE officials for violating immigration laws, he told the Italian outlet. DHS says Costa overstayed his B2 visa by nearly 7 years, adding in a statement that his 'criminal history includes arrests for battery on a person 65 years or older, possession of a controlled substance, and marijuana possession. Osceola County Sheriff's office arrested him on February 26, 2025.' His mother, Rosanna Mirabella Costa, told RAI that her son was taken to a preliminary hearing 'with shackles on his feet and shackles on his hands, like a dog. The only positive thing is that he can talk on the phone,' she added. The Italian Consulate in Miami confirmed to CNN that they are working with the foreign ministry in Italy, which is in contact with the families of the detained, but could not share any details.
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Migrant being held in Alligator Alcatraz makes plea to self-deport
A 63-year-old migrant being held at Florida's controversial Alligator Alcatraz has made a desperate plea to be released so he can self-deport. Fernando Artese, an undocumented immigrant from Argentina, was thrown into the notorious jail - plagued with accusations of deplorable conditions including overcrowding and food shortages - after he was arrested for driving with a suspended license. U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which runs the facility, has hit back at the claims of poor conditions as 'fake news.' Fernando (pictured), who had lived in the U.S. for more than a decade, was taken into police custody on July 3 on a warrant linked to a March charge for driving without a license. He was later placed on an immigration hold, according to the Miami New Times. His 19-year-old daughter, Carla Artese (pictured together), 19, is begging for her father's release while claiming that the entire family had been preparing to leave the country and settle in Argentina. 'This year, we were trying to leave the USA, and ICE got him and sent him to Alligator Alcatraz, where they treat them like criminals and have no rights, ' she explained. She added that she and her family had been 'saving up' for the relocation. 'The plan was to drive cross-country to California, pass through Mexico, visit family in Argentina, and then fly to Madrid,' she told the Miami New Times, adding that she was born in Spain and had planned to start college there. However, their ambitious plans drastically changed after her father was detained. 'On the second day of the trip, we were stopped in Jupiter, where were were passing by an area that was more of a rich area,' Fernando's daughter said. 'He was driving, and when he was stopped, we actually stopped, we were talking to them, they run the plate - it was because my dad didn't have a license.' Following the arrest, Fernando was placed on an immigration hold and later transferred to the Alligator Alcatraz facility in the Florida Everglades - a newly constructed detention center that has garnered significant criticism for its alleged conditions. President Donald Trump toured the migrant detention facility on July 1, praising its remote, high-security design. The 47th President promised the controversial center would soon house what he called 'the most menacing migrants, the most vicious people on the planet.' 'Very soon this facility will house some of the most menacing migrants, the most vicious people on the planet. We're surrounded by miles of swamp land and the only way out is deportation,' Trump said. He also said he'd like to see similar facilities in 'many states,' adding Florida would getting a second one 'and probably a couple more.' Now, the Artese family's worst fears have come to life as their beloved dad is one of hundreds of migrants currently being held at the divisive Florida facility. 'Since I came here [the the United States], I've always had the fear of something happening to my dad, and I feel like my biggest fear happened,' Carla said. 'And I feel like my biggest fear happened, and in the worst situation it could have been.' Fernando has since described the conditions at the facility as harsh and unsanitary, citing extreme temperature swings, mosquito infestations , and a lack of privacy. He also reported that detainees had to handle human waste after toilets malfunctioned, the Miami New Times reported. Fernando has also likened the site to a 'concentration camp' calling it a 'Hispanic concentration camp' full of mostly working-class immigrants. 'My dad tells me, 'We're all like a family in there eating together,'' Carla told the Miami New Times of her father's experience in the camp. 'It's the Hispanic community,' she added. The 63-year-old father-of-one added that he has had only three showers since arriving at the facility. Trump, however, said he 'couldn't care less' that the newly erected facilities were controversial. He praised the facility. 'We're arresting the worst of the worst,' he told reporters in Florida. 'We're getting these monsters out of the United States, out of Florida, out of all the places that they are in.' The detention facility was spearheaded by Florida Republican leaders and garnered its nickname due to its location: it sits about 37 miles from Miami in the middle of a swamp surrounded by snakes and alligators - and in an area of the state that is prone to hurricanes. Despite Trump's praise, Democrats railed against the facility and environmental groups have sued to try and stop its opening. 'It's like a theatricalization of cruelty,' Maria Asuncion Bilbao, Florida campaign coordinator at the immigration advocacy group American Friends Service Committee told the Associated Press. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Democrat from Orlando, called the facility a 'makeshift prison camp.' Yet, Trump looked visibly pleased with the setup during his tour - as he was accompanied on by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem - observing stacks of bunk beds behind chain-linked fencing inside an air conditioned tent in a Florida swamp. The president has since said that any migrant being processed into the facility who wanted to return to their home country would be allowed to do so. However, on July 10, Fernando told the Miami New Times that officials at Alligator Alcatraz had made an announcement that detainees who wanted to self-deport should line up. But, when detainees did so, officials disappeared without any explanation. Fernando, who holds Italian citizenship, has made it clear that he wishes to return to Italy, but says he has not been provided with any information about how to proceed. His daughter, who has been desperately trying to assist her father, has since started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for an immigration attorney. The campaign has raised over $5,000 of its $10,000 goal, but she says more funds are needed to navigate the legal process. 'They haven't given him any information about his case or any right to an attorney. Not to mention, they haven't added him to the system yet, so he doesn't even appear like an inmate anywhere,' she wrote on the fundraising page. 'We want to get an attorney soon to guide us and help us through our situation to make it as quick as possible to see my dad again, and we need help to cover the expenses.' Carla expressed concern over her father's treatment and the lack of transparency in his case. 'They treat them like criminals and have no rights,' she said. Stephanie Hartman, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Emergency Management, has since defended the new facility, claiming the allegations against the center are 'completely false.' 'Those allegations are completely false. The facility meets all required standards and is in good working order,' Hartman wrote in an email to the Miami New Times. 'Detainees have access to potable water from on-site tanks refilled by 6,000-gallon trucks. Each individual is issued a personal cup they can refill at any time, and bottled water is provided at meals. Tanks are regularly sanitized, flushed, and tested to ensure water quality. Full-size showers are available daily with no restriction on bathing water All wastewater is hard-pumped into 22,000-gallon frac tanks, maintained below 50 percent capacity and pumped daily to minimize transfers. Tanks, hoses, and connections are fully contained to prevent spills and are regularly inspected to ensure zero environmental impact,' the statement concluded.
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Migrant being held in Alligator Alcatraz now begging for chance to self-deport
A 63-year-old migrant detained at Florida 's controversial Alligator Alcatraz immigration facility is pleading for the opportunity to self-deport. Fernando Artese, 63, an undocumented immigrant from Argentina, had been preparing to leave the country for good with his family when his plans were upended by a traffic stop in Jupiter, Florida. Fernando, who had lived in the U.S. for more than a decade, was arrested on July 3 for driving with a suspended license and was later placed on an immigration hold, despite his plans to voluntarily deport. His daughter, Carla Artese, 19, said the family had been preparing to leave the country and settle in Argentina. 'This year, we were trying to leave the USA, and ICE got him and sent him to Alligator Alcatraz, where they treat them like criminals and have no rights, ' Carla explained. She added that she and her family had been 'saving up' for the cross-country trip they had been planning. 'The plan was to drive cross-country to California, pass through Mexico, visit family in Argentina, and then fly to Madrid,' she told the Miami New Times, adding that she was born in Spain and had planned to start college there. However, their ambitious plans drastically changed after her father was detained. 'On the second day of the trip, we were stopped in Jupiter, where were were passing by an area that was more of a rich area,' Fernando's daughter said. 'He was driving, and when he was stopped, we actually stopped, we were talking to them, they run the plate - it was because my dad didn't have a license.' After the arrest, Fernando was placed on an immigration hold and transferred to the Alligator Alcatraz facility in the Florida Everglades - a newly constructed detention center that has garnered significant criticism for its alleged conditions. 'Since I came here [the the United States], I've always had the fear of something happening to my dad, and I feel like my biggest fear happened,' Carla said. 'And I feel like my biggest fear happened, and in the worst situation it could have been.' Fernando has since described the conditions at the facility as harsh and unsanitary, citing extreme temperature swings, mosquito infestations, and a lack of privacy. He also reported that detainees had to handle human waste after toilets malfunctioned, the Miami New Times reported. Fernando has also likened the site to a 'concentration camp' calling it a 'Hispanic concentration camp' full of mostly working-class immigrants. 'My dad tells me, 'We're all like a family in there eating together,'' Carla told the Miami New Times of her father's experience in the camp. 'It's the Hispanic community,' she added. The 63-year-old father-of-one added that he has had only three showers since arriving at the facility. Fernando, who holds Italian citizenship, has made it clear that he wishes to return to Italy, but says he has not been provided with any information about how to proceed. On July 10, he reported that officials at Alligator Alcatraz had made an announcement that detainees who wanted to self-deport should line up. However, when detainees did so, officials disappeared without any explanation. Carla, who has been desperately trying to assist her father, has since started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for an immigration attorney. The campaign has raised over $5,000 of its $10,000 goal, but Carla says more funds are needed to navigate the legal process. 'They haven't given him any information about his case or any right to an attorney. Not to mention, they haven't added him to the system yet, so he doesn't even appear like an inmate anywhere,' she wrote on the fundraising page. 'We want to get an attorney soon to guide us and help us through our situation to make it as quick as possible to see my dad again, and we need help to cover the expenses.' Carla expressed concern over her father's treatment and the lack of transparency in his case. 'They treat them like criminals and have no rights,' she said. Still, Carla holds on to hope. She said that despite the uncertainty, her father remains committed to the YouTube project they had planned, called 'Argentinomades.' 'I know he's still going to want to make that project,' she says, 'so I would love to make it and have people follow it so when he gets out, he can see that.' Stephanie Hartman, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Emergency Management, has since defended the new facility, claiming the allegations against the center are 'completely false.' 'Those allegations are completely false. The facility meets all required standards and is in good working order,' Hartman wrote in an email to the Miami New Times. 'Detainees have access to potable water from on-site tanks refilled by 6,000-gallon trucks. Each individual is issued a personal cup they can refill at any time, and bottled water is provided at meals. Tanks are regularly sanitized, flushed, and tested to ensure water quality. Full-size showers are available daily with no restriction on bathing water All wastewater is hard-pumped into 22,000-gallon frac tanks, maintained below 50% capacity and pumped daily to minimize transfers. Tanks, hoses, and connections are fully contained to prevent spills and are regularly inspected to ensure zero environmental impact,' the statement concluded. The Florida Division of Emergency Management quickly constructed the controversial site, which officials have said will detain more than 3,000 people. The Trump administration has also touted the facility as a place to hold the 'worst of the worst' criminals before removing them from the country. 'Alligator Alcatraz, and other facilities like it, will give us the capability to lock up some of the worst scumbags who entered our country under the previous administration,' U.S. Department of Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem said in a June 30 press release.
