Mexico Seeks Repatriation of 14 Nationals Held in Florida Detention Center

The Mexican government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, is actively seeking the immediate repatriation of 14 Mexican nationals detained at the U.S. immigration facility known as "Alligator Alcatraz" in Florida's Everglades. The detention center, surrounded by dangerous wildlife and notorious for its harsh, windowless conditions with constant artificial lighting, has drawn significant criticism, including from human rights groups and U.S. lawmakers who have introduced legislation to shut it down. Among the detainees are brothers Carlos and Alejandro Gonzalez, whose detention after a traffic stop has highlighted issues of legal limbo, with their lawyer denied access to case files and no judge assigned. The Trump administration has used the facility as part of a stringent immigration enforcement strategy, returning over 73,000 people to Mexico since January 2025. Human Rights Watch and other organizations have reported overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, degrading treatment, and inadequate medical care at similar detention centers in Florida. Mexico has sent diplomatic notes protesting the treatment of detainees and insists that no Mexican should be held outside their home country, emphasizing the urgency of repatriation efforts.