In a significant legal battle, conditions at an immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz’, are under scrutiny due to strict rules governing detainees and complaints about living conditions. Detainees receive color-coded uniforms upon arrival, and they are segregated based on their criminal history and potential flight risk, as dictated by a recently disclosed handbook included in court filings.
This lawsuit is one of three actions advocating for the rights of detainees at the facility, which has faced criticism since its opening in July. Reports indicate that the facility was not subjected to adequate environmental review during its conversion from an airstrip.
Despite a federal judge's preliminary order in August mandating the facility's operations to cease within two months, activities continued after an appellate court placed a hold on the injunction.
Amid growing concerns from civil rights organizations, claims of inhumane treatment, and insufficient access to legal counsel have emerged, leading these groups to seek an injunction that would halt detainee operations altogether. They argue that the setup violates federal law that strictly limits immigration detention functions to the Department of Homeland Security.
A detailed look at the handbook shows that while squalid conditions allegedly prevail, rules stress hygiene and discipline, with strict penalties for noncompliance. Detainees are required to adhere to rigorous dress codes and restrictions, while civil rights groups contend that basic human rights are being overlooked.
President Donald Trump visited the facility in July, highlighting its potential as a model for similar institutions nationwide, indicating the administration's push for expanded immigration detention capacities.
In contrast, detainees have reported issues such as malfunctioning toilets and inadequate showers alongside a lack of essential resources, prompting serious questions about the facility's management and the treatment of individuals in custody.
