DACA Recipient Detained at Florida's Alligator Alcatraz Amid Facility Condition Concerns

A 36-year-old DACA recipient who has been in the United States for two decades was detained and transferred to the controversial Florida immigrant detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz" after a traffic stop led to his arrest on a warrant for a missed court date related to a suspended license. Despite having legal status and a valid driver's license at the time of the stop, the man was held by ICE and sent to the Everglades facility, raising questions about the use of the detention center which President Donald Trump has described as for "the worst of the worst." His attorneys have criticized the conditions at the facility, describing them as harsh and unsuitable, and are seeking his release through an immigration bond or potentially a federal civil rights lawsuit. The case highlights concerns about Florida's expanded role in immigration enforcement, where state troopers have been deputized to detain illegal immigrants and transfer them to federal custody, with thousands apprehended since March and sent to Alligator Alcatraz. The man's detention challenges the narrative that only violent criminals are held at the facility, as he is legally protected under DACA and employed, with his arrest stemming from a technicality involving a missed court date due to a mailed citation sent to an old address. Advocates argue this incident underscores broader issues with immigration enforcement policies under President Trump's administration and Florida's collaboration in mass deportation efforts.