Additional Coverage:
- Florida denies claims of ‘uprising’ at Alligator Alcatraz as facility prepares to shut down (themirror.com)
Tensions Flare at Florida Detention Center as Closure Looms
Allegations of a suppressed uprising involving tear gas and beatings at the Everglades migrant detention facility, often referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz,” have been vehemently denied by Florida officials. The accusations surfaced last week when detainees contacted a Miami Spanish-language news channel, claiming guards used force to quell a demonstration sparked by news of a detainee’s relative’s death.
According to detainees, the incident began with chants of “freedom” and escalated when guards responded with batons, tear gas, and activated fire alarms. One detainee, speaking by phone, insisted they were immigrants, not criminals. However, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), which operates the facility for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has dismissed the reports as fabricated, stating detainees are provided with safe living conditions and guards are properly trained.
This incident follows a recent court order mandating the facility’s closure due to environmental law violations. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe concerned about the impact on protected wetlands.
The detention center has been the subject of ongoing controversy, with detainees and their advocates raising concerns about alleged brutality, inadequate living conditions, and limited access to legal counsel. These allegations, including claims of insufficient food, water, and medical care, have been repeatedly denied by the Department of Homeland Security.
The facility, built with $245 million in federal funds, opened in July after being visited by Trump administration officials. Designed to hold up to 3,000 inmates, it housed approximately 1,400 detainees at its peak, with a reported small fraction actually under judicial deportation orders. A separate lawsuit regarding detainee access to attorneys is currently awaiting a judge’s ruling.