Locked in metal boxes

A Homeland Security watchdog found immigrants at Florida's Alligator Alcatraz were held in outdoor metal cages roughly 18 square feet in size, for stretches lasting up to two hours.

“unprecedented among detention facilities”

Seventy nine people, one policy

Between July 2025 and January 2026, staff put 79 detainees in the enclosures, calling them "calming areas" for people to deescalate. At least once, a cage was used as punishment.

“The use of such restrictive spaces is highly unconventional and does not align with standards for humane treatment.”

Built in eight days

Florida threw the camp up in the Everglades in 2025 under a DeSantis executive order. Trump joked detainees would have to learn how to outrun the alligators.

Bugs in the showers

Inspectors found shower stalls infested with small insects and detainees allowed to wash only three times a week. Housing units were too cramped for the people packed into them.

“creating cramped conditions for detainees who spent most of their time in their housing units”

No clean water

Detainees told investigators they could not get clean drinking water, and had no way to wash the plastic cups they drank from. Earlier accounts described denied medication too.

Nobody owns it

Washington paid the operating bills, but DHS told the watchdog that Florida ran the place day to day. DeSantis closed it in June 2026, calling it always temporary.