DHS Secretary Noem Defends Florida Alligator Alcatraz Detention Conditions Amid Lawmakers' Criticism

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended Florida's new migrant detention facility known as 'Alligator Alcatraz' against allegations of overcrowding and inhumane conditions raised by Democratic lawmakers. During a heated exchange on NBC's 'Meet the Press,' Noem emphasized that the facility meets or exceeds the highest federal detention standards and criticized Democrats for not raising similar concerns during the Biden administration, which she said had even worse conditions involving overcrowding on cement floors. The facility, which opened in July with a capacity of up to 5,000 beds and a $450 million price tag, had been toured by both current and former administration officials before housing migrants. Noem also noted that cameras were allowed inside the facility to show transparency and that the conditions there surpass those of many federal prisons. Democrats continue to call for the facility's shutdown, describing detainees as being held in cages and subjected to unsanitary conditions, while Noem insists the politics surrounding immigration detention must end.