Legal Advocates Demand Closure of Florida’s Overcrowded Alligator Alcatraz Detention Center

The Florida migrant detention facility known as 'Alligator Alcatraz' has come under intense scrutiny for its inhumane conditions, including constant bright lighting, severe mosquito infestations, poor sanitation, and inadequate access to food, showers, and medical care. Detainees describe the environment as cage-like and torturous, with reports of being stripped naked during cell transfers and suffering health issues such as fungal infections due to unsanitary conditions. Legal advocates and detainees’ families are calling for the closure of the facility, labeling the detention conditions as 'unlivable' and highlighting overcrowding issues exacerbated by the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement policies. Human Rights Watch reports a nationwide surge in detention populations to historic highs, with a significant portion of detainees having no criminal history, while similar abuses are reported in other detention centers across the country. The facility, located in the Everglades and surrounded by natural barriers like alligators, is also criticized for its high operational costs and dehumanizing atmosphere. Congressional efforts, such as the 'No Cages in the Everglades Act,' aim to shut down the center amid growing bipartisan concern over detainees’ welfare.