Florida Detention Facility Criticized for Conditions, Rhetoric

A new migrant detention facility in Florida's Everglades, known as 'Alligator Alcatraz,' has come under fire for its harsh living conditions and controversial justification by public officials. Detainees and their families report inhumane circumstances, including lack of running water, nonfunctioning toilets, infestations of large bugs, extreme temperature swings, and limited access to legal and spiritual support. Bishop Frank Dewane has publicly condemned officials’ references to wildlife as deterrents, calling such rhetoric degrading. State officials have denied allegations of neglect, but multiple accounts describe ongoing issues affecting detainees' dignity and health. Critics assert that the facility's remoteness and environment violate human rights and liken it to historical atrocities. The facility is intended to support mass deportations under former President Trump, with plans to expand its capacity to 3,000 detainees.