Latest news with #migrant
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Alligator Alcatraz is overlit, mosquito-filled nightmare where prisoners rarely get to shower, inmate says
A migrant held at Florida 's controversial Alligator Alcatraz detention center described dozens of inmates being corralled inside cages at the disorienting, mosquito-infested facility. Juan Palma, 48, who has spent more than two weeks at the center in the Florida Everglades, told NBC6 that the lights stay on around the clock, leaving him clueless as to the time of day. The Cuban migrant said that he and 32 other people live in what he described as a cage and that they are only allowed to shower every three or four days. 'I feel like my life is in danger,' Palma said of the 'torturous' conditions. 'There are too many mosquitos, you can't sleep,' he added. He fears that he will be sent to an unknown country, as Cuba doesn't always take back migrants. Palma, whose criminal record includes charges of grand theft, credit forgery and battery, is struggling to fight his deportation order, his wife Yanet Lopez told NBC News. Lopez said that it was almost as if her husband ceased to exist apart from his ability to call her. 'We are stressed, depressed, and the situation we are experiencing is very difficult,' Lopez said. The newly constructed detention center has garnered significant criticism for its allegedly abhorrent state. Fernando Artese, 63, an undocumented immigrant from Argentina, was thrown in the facility after he was arrested for driving with a suspended license. He had lived in the US for more than a decade and was taken into custody on July 3 on a warrant linked to a March charge for driving without a license. Artese 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. He likened the site to a 'Hispanic concentration camp' full of mostly working-class migrants. He added that he had only three showers since arriving at the facility. President Donald Trump said he 'couldn't care less' that the center was controversial. He toured the center on July 1, praising its remote, high-security design. 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 promised that the center would house what he called '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.' 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. The Florida Division of Emergency Management had quickly constructed the controversial site, which officials have said will detain more than 3,000 people. '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.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
6 arrested after MORE ‘mindless thuggery' outside Epping migrant hotel as cops make appeal to help find yobs
COPS have arrested six more after "mindless thuggery" unfolded outside a migrant hotel in Epping. Chaos erupted outside The Bell Hotel in Essex last week after an asylum seeker appeared in court charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. 10 10 The unrest saw yobs launching themselves on riot vans, smashing windshields and ripping off wingmirrors in senseless displays of "hooliganism". One thug was even run over while attempting to stop a police van gaining access to the hotel. Another man had his teeth knocked out after riot cops smashed a shield into his face in a brutal clash. Since tensions reached boiling point, violent demonstrations have cost the force £100,000. And Essex Police confirmed six more people have been detained this week. Cops arrested two men, aged 36, and 47, on suspicion of violent disorder under Section 2 of the Public Order Act. A 51-year-old has also now been charged with violent disorder. A 34-year-old man remains in custody on suspicion of breaching Section 60AA of the Public Order Act. Meanwhile, two teens aged 17 and 16, were also arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage to a vehicle and going equipped to cause criminal damage, respectively. But police are still appealing for more information and released CCTV of three men they wish to speak to. The force wish to located them in connection with violent disorder, assaulting an emergency worker, and assault. Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: "The cost of policing criminal incidents in Epping over the last week has reached £100,000 – money which we would much rather spend on continuing to cut crime across Essex and keeping our neighbourhoods safe. "What we have seen in Epping over the last week is not protest, it's hooliganism and the people responsible for it can expect to be held accountable. 'To those who seek to use social media to peddle untruths and lies about the incidents in Epping on Thursday and Sunday, you won't win. 'The very people you are criticising are police officers who have families, who live in our communities and want to keep them safe. 10 10 10 'These are the same people who have been antagonised with threatening and abusive language, they've had missiles thrown at them and they've been injured. 'Once again, to anyone who somehow thinks we will tolerate this behaviour – think again. "We don't take sides; we arrest criminals and we have a duty to ensure no-one is hurt – it really is that simple.' This comes after two people were arrested on Sunday night after thugs sparked brawls in the street. The force confirmed eight officers were injured in the clash and two people have been arrested - one on suspicion of affray following reports of an assault, and the other for failing to comply with dispersal orders. The man accused of affray, 65-year-old Dean Walters, has since been charged and the second suspect remains in custody. On Wednesday night, video footage captured the dramatic moment a protestor was run over by a police riot van as chaos broke out. Yobs allegedly tried to block the streets with green plastic blockades as officers navigated through angry crows. Men could be seen kicking and punching several riot vans on the road. But footage shows one man being driven into after failing to move. The protest was sparked by a 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker who was arrested and later charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and one count of harassment without violence. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, who had been living at the Bell Hotel, in Epping, Essex, denies sexual assault. He appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 10, where he denied all charges. His arrest led to multiple protests in the region, culminating in the violent clashes. There are about 210 hotels under contracts with the Home Office to house migrants. A Sun investigation revealed 339 defendants who had been living at asylum hotels had appeared in magistrate's courts already this year. Sir Keir Starmer released a statement in response to the growing tensions. "Well, I think it's obviously important that communities know that we are working to reduce the number of asylum hotels," said the PM's spokesperson. "That is a clear government policy. But it's also important that legitimate protest doesn't cross over into something else, and we would always hope that communities would respect that. "But we are, and I think the Prime Minister is on record as saying, about the need to cut migration, both lawfully and illegal migration, and that is something that you're seeing in working on tirelessly over the last year, whether it be the agreement with the French last week or the agreement with the German government yesterday, that is a priority for this government. "It is something that requires international solutions, and that is why you're seeing this flurry of activity from this government to tackle these gangs from every possible angle.' 10 10 10
Reuters
a day ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Italian officials to face trial over deadly Cutro migrant shipwreck
ROME, July 21 (Reuters) - An Italian judge on Monday ordered six police and coastguard officers to stand trial for mishandling operations during a migrant shipwreck that killed more than 90 people near the town of Cutro in 2023, media reports said. The migrant accident, one of the deadliest in Italy's history, involved a wooden sailboat that set out from Turkey and smashed apart on rocks within sight of a beach near the shore of the southern Calabria region. The officials -- two from the coastguard and four from the Guardia di Finanza police force -- have been charged with multiple manslaughter related to negligence that may have contributed to the shipwreck, according to Ansa news agency. Under Italian law, prosecutors have to ask a judge whether to call a formal trial for the suspects after wrapping up their probe. Ansa said the trial is due to start in January. The decision to order the trial against the six suspects triggered an angry reaction from Matteo Salvini, the leader of the anti-immigrant League party and deputy prime minister in the right-wing government of Giorgia Meloni. "A single word: SHAME. To put on trial six officials who risk their lives every day to save others. SHAME," Salvini wrote on his account on X. Late last year, in a separate trial connected to the Cutro case, three people were convicted of aiding and abetting illegal immigration causing the death of the migrants and were sentenced to up to 16 years in jail.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Moment TikTok star clashes with protesters outside Epping asylum seeker hotel as demonstrations continue after Ethiopian man charged over 'sexual assaults'
This is the awkward moment a TikTok star clashed with protesters outside the controversial migrant hotel in Essex on Sunday. Yesterday, angry locals gathered outside The Bell Hotel in Epping for the second time to protest against its use as accommodation for asylum seekers after a man staying there was charged over three 'sexual assaults'. Ethiopian asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 10, where he denied a number of offences. Thursday's demonstration started peacefully, but ended with three arrests after clashes with counter protesters and an incident which saw a police van drive into a man. Six arrests were made during the protest on Sunday evening which attracted more counter demonstrations and has spilled over in to today as people continue to stand outside this morning. Amongst those in attendance last night was TikTok star and boxer Ed Matthews. The 24-year-old from Brentwood in Essex, who has over 248,000 Instagram followers, livestreamed his visit to the protest. He could be seen posing for selfies with fans before approaching police officers standing outside the hotel with a can of Stella in hand. He ignored the officers warning and proceeded to tell those around him to 'move out the way' before piercing a hole in the can and drinking from it in a bizarre performance 'If I shotgun this, is that illegal?', he asked one officer who replied: 'Why would you do that mate? Drink your Stella somewhere else.' However, Matthews ignored the cop and proceeded to tell those around him to 'move out the way' before piercing a hole in the can and drinking from it in a bizarre performance recorded by men with cameras. The influencer seemed to be under the impression he was popular with all of the protesters as he walked around confidently with his own film crew in tow. But things got awkward when he was confronted by others who were less than impressed with his presence. Calling him over for a chat, one man shouted: 'You come down here for your ten followers? Don't come over here filming.' A few of the other demonstrators attempted to hide their faces with their hoods and t-shirts as Matthews and his cameraman approached. Matthews defended himself, insisting 'everyone's filming', and when asked why he had joined them said: 'I'm here for the right reasons.' The man then told him off for his stunt with his can of beer in front of officers, telling him he's making the whole protest look like a 'joke' and told him to 'do things properly'. The man then told him off for his stunt with his can of beer in front of officers, telling him he's making the whole protest look like a 'joke' and told him to 'do things properly' 'What are you here promoting? Stella? I'm here to protect the kids,' the man added as they began to square up to each other. Matthews attempted to walk away when another man said: 'Take your camera and f*** off.' The pair then got into a heated discussion as the TikToker asked: 'Why are you being rude mate? We are here for the right reason, ain't we?' 'No you ain't, you're here because you want f***ing content,' the man replied. Waving his beer in the air, Matthew said: 'What? Because I had a Stella?' But the man had clearly had enough and knocked the can out of his hand as he said: 'I don't give a s**t about the Stella. Get out of here now, I'm telling you to f**k off.' Matthews then sulked off towards a group of younger boys who looked overjoyed to see him. The men can be heard still shouting about how he should join them in protesting peacefully, to which he shouted back: 'We should all be working together. This is what they want mate, for us all to be arguing. 'We are all here for the right reasons. No need to get rude.' He then joined a group of people who were standing on the back of a pick-up truck to watch some commotion between officers and protesters. 'Do you think I want the streets unsafe?' he said into the camera, adding: 'It's just people kicking off for the livestream. There's no need for it.' One young fan asked him if he was okay after getting his Stella knocked out of his hand, to which he replied: 'I'm good. It's cool, I'm driving anyway.' Essex Police said six arrests were made on Sunday night for 'violent disorder' after the peaceful protests turned into 'mindless thuggery'. Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: 'Disappointingly we have seen yet another protest, which had begun peacefully, escalate into mindless thuggery with individuals again hurting one of our officers and damaging a police vehicle.' The force announced before the protest that it would order demonstrators to remove face coverings when requested under section 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. They said anyone who refused to remove a face mask when asked to do so was likely to be arrested and could be imprisoned if convicted. Officers said: 'The right to peaceful protest is protected by law and allows everyone freedom of expression, but this must be done respectfully and if there is a risk to public order, we will act appropriately.' Demonstrators gathering on Sunday displayed signs which opposed the hotel holding migrants as protestors let off red, white and blue smoke flares. Bottles and flares were thrown towards police vehicles stationed outside the hotel by some protesters who led chants such as 'send them home' and 'save our kids'. Police also surrounded a counter-protester, an elderly woman, who was escorted by police out of the area as a group of masked protesters followed her and shouted abuse. More images from last night's gathering showed cars beeping their horns as they drove by, waving Union Jack flags out of the window as onlookers cheered. People wrapped in St George's flag faced down riot police who lined up in a queue on Hemnall Street Further signs displayed by two women read: 'I'm not far right, I'm worried about my kids' and 'Make Epping Safe Again', while another read: 'We go home when they go back'. A line of police vans and officers blocked off the entrance to the hotel with protesters facing them on the other side of the pavement. UKIP politician Nick Tenconi led chants outside the hotel as he called on protestors to gather outside 'every week'. Yesterday's gathering came after tempers flared on Thursday, when a group of hardcore agitators appeared to stop three Essex Police riot vans from driving past the hotel to support their colleagues in the centre of the town, before protestors took to the road to block and attack police vans. Dramatic footage from that night showed a demonstrator being driven into by one of the police vehicles, which appeared to spark chaos outside the hotel. Keith Silk, 33, from, Loughton, was arrested on Saturday and has been charged with violent disorder and criminal damage following clashes outside the hotel. He was remanded into custody and will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court today. Dean Walters, 65, of Harlow, has also been charged and released on bail to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on September 24, with stringent conditions until then. Another man arrested on Thursday for failing to comply with a dispersal order has been released on conditional bail. A man was seen being put into the back of a police van at the Epping protests on Sunday night Essex Police said: 'Our investigations into the incidents which followed a peaceful protest in Epping on Thursday evening are continuing at pace and we thank the public for sharing vital information.' Local MP Neil Hudson condemned Thursday's 'violent scenes' in a post on X, after eight police officers were injured. He said: 'This is completely unacceptable. Police put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe. People have the right to peacefully protest but these violent scenes are not us, not Epping, not what we stand for. 'I urge folk to listen to the advice of the police while we work to sort this.' In the footage captured on Thursday, an Essex Police van was seen knocking over a young man, who stood in Epping High Road, in what appears to be an attempt to stop the vehicle leaving. In a comment addressing the video, a spokesperson for the Met said: 'Met officers attended Epping, Essex, on the evening of Thursday, 17 July, following a request by Essex Police to support with an ongoing protest and counter-protest. 'On arrival, officers were met with significant hostility from protesters, with police vehicles damaged and officers threatened with violence. 'During their attendance, officers attempted to leave the immediate area due to safety concerns and were subsequently blocked in by the group of protesters using barriers. A man with a St George's flag mask rode past the protesters who lined the pavements holding flags and signs UKIP politician Nick Tenconi led chants outside the hotel as he called on protesters to gather outside 'every week' 'We go home when they go back' reads this sign held outside the hotel yesterday evening Crowds were seen facing police who lined up outside the hotel as smoke bombs were launched During Thursday's protest, a police van leading the convoy was seen hurtling through a plastic barrier 'During this, a police van made contact with one of the protesters.' Protesters had erected a make-shift barrier made up of pallets and plastic fencing in the road to stop police leaving the scene on Thursday. The first of four Essex Police vans crashed through the barrier, leading to a protester to stand in the road, who was then knocked out of the way by the second van as people screamed: 'Oh my god' and 'what the f***'. The youth who was mowed down by the police van is then seen getting up and brushing himself down as he shouts at the convoy. Another man, who was standing by the side of the road, also fell to the ground during the chaotic clip - which has been seen millions of times online. It is unclear whether either man needed medical attention. Essex Police officers, dressed in full riot gear, were seen sat in the vehicles - as thugs are seen attacking the vans, kicking and launching missiles at them. Footage also showed riot police smash a shield into a protester's face and knock his teeth out in a heated clash. The clip shows the man in a grey vest square up to an officer before he is hit with full force. Riot police smashed a shield into a protester's face and knocked his teeth out in a heated clash outside the hotel Footage of the encounter shows the man in a grey vest square up to an officer before he is hit with full force In the aftermath of Thursday's protest incident the injured man spoke to camera where he relayed his account of events and explained the teeth were now in his 'pocket' A car, understood to be a police vehicle, was seen with a heavily damaged windscreen last night Protesters gathered outside the migrant hotel where a demonstration on Thursday descended into violent chaos Dozens of officers were seen standing close to the protesters with riot helmets in their hands yesterday The injured man then looks down at his hand in disbelief as he clasps his teeth and shows them eagerly to fellow protesters including a lady with the Flag of St. George draped over her shoulders. In the aftermath of Thursday's protest incident the injured man spoke to camera where he relayed his account of events and explained the teeth were now in his 'pocket'. He claimed: 'I was trying to talk to him (the riot officer) and he smashed me in the face with his shield.' The protester can then be seen reaching into his pocket before he presents what resembles a yellow luminescent highlighter, a bottle top, and two teeth. Other footage shows the man furiously shouting at the riot police after his teeth have been knocked out as the man filming comments 'he's fuming mate'. There had been among up to 100 officers who battled with anti-migrant protesters who had confronted a counter anti-racism demonstration. Speaking after Thursday's incidents, ACC Hooper said: 'If you were one of those individuals that was responsible for the damage - particularly to my officers or vehicle - you can expect a knock on your door.' He added: 'Eight of my officers... were assaulted last night and that is absolutely, totally unaccepted. They have come here to do a role, to support their communities – they're a part of that community. And that's what we won't tolerate.'
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Smoke bombs and bottles thrown at police during migrant hotel protest
Bottles and pink smoke bombs have been hurled at police during a protest outside a migrant hotel in Essex. On Sunday night, scores of police officers stood by in riot gear as the crowd gathered in the early evening outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, which was protected by a line of police vans and six-foot-high fencing. The protest was the third outside the hotel in the last week following the arrest of an Ethiopian migrant who was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. On Thursday evening, eight officers were injured and police vehicles were damaged as a demonstration at the hotel spilt over into violence. The mood of the protest on Sunday was largely peaceful at first, with several people in the crowd draped in Union flags while others carried placards, including one that read: 'You are paying billions to prop up a broken asylum system! Look after our own.' Some marched down the road carrying an England flag emblazoned with the words, 'Save Our Kids', while others in the crowd called for protests to be held weekly until the hotel closed. There were intermittent chants of 'Keir Starmer's a w----r' and 'Whose streets? Our streets', from people in the crowd, which included men, women and children. Events turned uglier as several glass bottles were thrown and shattered on the ground in front of police. At least one pink smoke bomb appeared to land on top of a police van. Essex Police had announced a Section 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 banning anyone from wearing a face covering at the protest tonight, and saying they risked arrest if they did. Several members of the crowd flouted the order by wearing balaclavas or scarves pulled across their faces with hoodies over their heads, but police did not appear to confront them. Essex Police admitted that 'one individual' had been arrested in Epping and taken into custody, but no details were given. Much of the anger at the protest on Thursday was directed against a group of anti-racism protesters who marched through the town towards the hotel. Members of the crowd hurled objects, including plastic bottles, eggs and a flour bomb, at the group as officers formed a protective cordon around them, and police vehicles were attacked. But no rival protesters turned up on Sunday night, removing the risk of a potential flashpoint, and it appeared to pass off more peacefully. An Essex Police spokesman said: 'We have a full policing plan in place to ensure the safety of everyone who is attending. 'To protect the public, this evening we have put a power in place to require the removal of face coverings (under section 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994). 'If you are planning to protest peacefully about issues which are important to you and your community, then this is entirely lawful. 'However, on Thursday night, we unfortunately saw incidents of violence and aggression which have no place on our streets.' They added: 'We will deal robustly and quickly with anyone intent on coming into Epping to commit selfish criminal behaviour. 'We will police impartially, without fear or favour, and have legal responsibilities to protect those who want to exercise their rights peacefully, and we cannot prevent, hinder or restrict peaceful assembly. 'The right to peaceful protest is protected by law and allows everyone freedom of expression, but this must be done respectfully, and if there is a risk to public order, we will act appropriately. 'Thursday's protest saw people wearing face coverings and committing serious acts of disorder. 'Anyone who refuses to remove a face covering when required to do so is likely to be arrested and, if convicted, could face imprisonment.'
