Archbishop, Critics Decry 'Alligator Alcatraz' Conditions

Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski and other Catholic leaders have condemned the conditions and rhetoric surrounding Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' migrant detention center, emphasizing humanitarian concerns and the dehumanization of detainees. Wenski criticized the remote location, extreme heat, and temporary facilities, warning that treating migrants as dangerous criminals harms the common good. Critics stress that many detainees are long-term residents with family and community ties. Lawmakers, activists, and environmental groups have joined lawsuits demanding better conditions and increased transparency, highlighting restricted legal and family visitation. State officials defend the center as necessary for detaining criminals pending federal deportation, but public opinion polls reveal widespread disapproval of current immigration enforcement policies. The debate has renewed calls for Congress to enact more humane immigration reform.