Sworn Testimony Exposes Harsh Conditions at Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detention Center
Federal court testimony provided this week offered a stark glimpse into the conditions inside the South Florida Detention Facility, a remote immigration holding center situated in the Everglades that has come to be known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” During a hearing in Fort Myers, two former detainees testified to severe restrictions on legal access and basic hygiene, alleging that they were forced to write attorneys’ phone numbers on their bunks using bars of soap after being refused pens and paper.
The witnesses, identified in court documents by their initials to protect their safety, described a chaotic environment within the hastily assembled facility. One witness, identified as H.C.R., testified via video link from Bogotá, Colombia, following his deportation. He stated that attempts to contact legal counsel were thwarted not only by a lack of writing materials but also by a telecommunications system that routinely failed. According to his testimony, calls to lawyers would immediately drop, leaving detainees isolated from legal assistance and their families.
Another witness, a Haitian national identified as J.E., described the treatment at the facility as “horrible.” He testified that he was coerced into signing deportation documents under the false pretense that he would be sent to Mexico. Instead, he was flown to Haiti, where he is currently living in hiding. The testimony is part of an ongoing lawsuit filed by former detainees and legal advocacy groups against federal and state officials, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Florida governor’s office. The plaintiffs allege that the conditions and policies at the facility violate the First Amendment rights of detainees by effectively denying them access to counsel.
The facility, located at the remote Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Big Cypress National Preserve, was established in July 2025. It was erected in a matter of days on seized county land and comprises a series of industrial tents and cages. Critics and human rights organizations have long raised alarms about the site’s suitability for human habitation, citing the swampy terrain, extreme heat, and presence of mosquitoes and local wildlife, including alligators and pythons. Testimony during the hearing corroborated these concerns, with reports of overflowing toilets, 24-hour lighting preventing sleep, and severe overcrowding where up to 32 men were held in a single cage.
In response to the allegations, state officials maintain that the facility’s location and operations serve as a necessary deterrent to illegal immigration. During the facility’s opening, officials touted the harsh environment as a feature rather than a flaw, suggesting the presence of dangerous wildlife would prevent escapes. Defense attorneys for the state have denied claims that legal access is systematically restricted, arguing that existing security protocols are required for safety. They have previously characterized the center as a holding area for high-risk individuals, a claim contested by advocates who argue that many detainees are held for minor civil infractions, such as driving without a license.
The presiding judge, U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell, is currently weighing the testimony to determine if the state-run, federally funded facility has infringed upon the constitutional rights of those detained. The case continues to draw attention to the rapid expansion of detention infrastructure in Florida and the legal standards governing the treatment of immigrants in state custody.
columbian.com
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miamiherald.com
amnestyusa.org
wikipedia.org
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