Concerns Raised Over Conditions at Florida Detention Center
According to reports from The Washington Post, immigrant detainees at a facility in Florida, often referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz,” describe their living conditions as “severe.” One notable complaint is the offering of “cold ham sandwiches” for meals.
This new detention center, approved under the Trump administration in June, was opened shortly thereafter, with a capacity of 5,000 beds and an estimated cost of $450 million to accommodate illegal immigrants and others. On Thursday, detainees, their relatives, and previous staff members conveyed troubling details about the situation at the facility.
One anonymous source mentioned issues like water pooling on the floors, receiving inadequate food, and the absence of basic hygiene products such as deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. Former staff members and immigration lawyers have shared that detainees are trying to occupy their time by making soccer balls out of towels and crafting dominoes from cardboard lunch boxes. A former security guard commented, “They lie down all day.”
In a phone interview, one detainee revealed he had gone four days without a shower, while another said a lack of water left him unable to clean up after being taken to the shower area. Both detainees and former staff have mentioned significant problems with mosquitoes, with the center reportedly not providing bug spray and raising fears of potential diseases.
On Saturday, a bipartisan group of Florida lawmakers visited the facility, and both Democrats and Republicans left with differing views about what they observed. This group, which included five legislators and about 20 state officials, was the first to inspect the site.
Following their observation, Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat, labeled the facility a “detention camp.” She highlighted hygiene issues, noting toilets submerged in drinking water and unclean conditions used for brushing teeth. Some lawmakers alleged detainees were served poor-quality food—specifically “gray turkey and cheese sandwiches”—while they themselves were provided with more substantial meals, like roasted chicken and sausages during their tour.
Kevin Guthrie, the Florida Emergency Management Director who conducted the tour, remarked in an interview that he believed the lawmakers “exaggerated” their experiences. For instance, he mentioned that a person utilized an infrared thermometer to test the temperature, inaccurately pointing it at a light bulb rather than the air. He also contested Wasserman Schultz’s claims regarding the sandwich quality, asserting that it wasn’t feasible to deem a turkey sandwich “gray” given their proximity to it during the tour.
Republican lawmakers from Florida also voiced their disagreement with the Democratic portrayal of the facility. Senator Blaze Ingoglia contended that the center was “clean, air-conditioned and well-maintained,” asserting that the criticisms were exaggerated and labeling them as “political theater.” He emphasized that the rhetoric did not match the reality of the situation.
