Florida 'Alligator Alcatraz' Faces Democratic Calls for Closure Amid Overcrowding, High Costs

Florida's new immigration detention facility, dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," has sparked intense bipartisan controversy following tours by lawmakers. Located in the remote Everglades and designed to hold and deport migrants efficiently, the facility has been criticized by Democratic representatives for overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, limited access to clean water, and inhumane treatment, with detainees reportedly packed 32 per cage and sharing only a few toilets. Democrats described the center as an "internment camp" and accused state officials of staging a sanitized tour that restricted access to detainees and banned media devices. Conversely, Republican officials defended the facility as clean, secure, and well-managed, highlighting features such as air conditioning, medical care, and backup generators. The Trump administration supports the facility as part of a broader migrant detention expansion, while Democrats continue to call for its closure, citing allegations that many detainees have no criminal records and are subjected to degrading conditions. This dispute underscores the growing political divide over immigration policy and the treatment of migrants under President Trump's administration and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.