Congress Tours Trump’s Alligator Alcatraz Detention Facility in Florida

The detention facility known as 'Alligator Alcatraz' in Florida's Everglades currently holds about 900 migrants in cramped, harsh conditions, with reports describing detainees packed into tents and cages under intense heat and poor sanitation. Congressional members and Florida state officials were allowed a limited tour only after legal action, revealing issues such as inadequate food, unhygienic facilities, and flooding concerns, though access to populated cells and medical areas was restricted. Democrats touring the site criticized the facility's conditions, highlighting detainees crying for help and insufficient nutrition, while some Republicans who visited defended the center, stating it meets federal detention standards with adequate food and comfortable beds. The Department of Homeland Security defended the facility, claiming ICE detention standards exceed those of many US prisons and ensure proper meals, medical care, and communication rights for detainees. The starkly contrasting accounts reflect a politically charged debate over the treatment of migrants under President Donald Trump's administration, with detainees reportedly expressing support for Trump during the Republican visit. Surveillance footage captured detainees under guard, emphasizing the facility's high-security environment amid ongoing scrutiny.