Lawyers Now Warn ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Violates Basic Human Rights

July 28, 2025 — Florida’s controversial immigration detention facility, officially named “Alligator Alcatraz,” has become the center of intense legal scrutiny as civil rights attorneys argue that the state-run center violates detainees’ constitutional rights.

Located in the remote Everglades at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee, Florida, the facility has been criticized for its harsh conditions, lack of legal access, and questionable jurisdictional oversight, prompting lawsuits and public outcry from advocates, lawmakers, and environmentalists.

On July 28, 2025, civil rights lawyers, including representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Americans for Immigrant Justice, argued in a virtual hearing before U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz in Miami that detainees at Alligator Alcatraz are being held without charges, denied access to attorneys, and barred from bond hearings in federal immigration courts.

The attorneys, led by Eunice Cho of the ACLU Foundation, described the situation as an “emergency,” alleging that officers at the facility are pressuring detainees to sign deportation orders without legal counsel.

They further noted that 100 detainees have already been deported from the facility, potentially without due process.

Lawyers reported that immigration courts have informed them they lack jurisdiction over Alligator Alcatraz detainees, leaving attorneys unable to file petitions for bond or challenge detentions.

“This is a black hole,” said Cho, emphasizing the lack of transparency and legal recourse for those held at the facility.

The plaintiffs demanded that federal and state officials clarify which immigration court has authority over the detainees to ensure access to legal proceedings.

In response, Nicholas Meros, an attorney representing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, claimed during the hearing that conditions have improved since the lawsuit was filed on July 16.

Meros stated that video-conference rooms have been established for detainees to communicate with attorneys, and in-person legal visits have begun.

However, Judge Ruiz did not issue an immediate ruling, instead directing the plaintiffs to refile their complaint as a request for a preliminary injunction.

A follow-up hearing is scheduled for August 18, 2025.

Ruiz also permitted the plaintiffs to seek disclosure of agreements between federal and state governments to clarify authority over the facility, noting the “murky” jurisdictional issues.

Harsh Conditions Reported at Alligator Alcatraz

Opened on July 3, 2025, Alligator Alcatraz was constructed rapidly on an isolated Everglades airfield to support President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts.

The facility, which currently holds approximately 900 detainees in fenced units designed for 32 men each, has been described as a “tent city” plagued by overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and environmental challenges.

Congressional lawmakers, including Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Darren Soto, Jared Moskowitz, and Maxwell Frost, toured the facility on July 12 and reported seeing detainees “packed into cages” amid sweltering heat, mosquito infestations, and insufficient meals.

Detainees were heard shouting “libertad” (Spanish for “freedom”) during the visit, highlighting their distress.

Detainee accounts, corroborated by relatives and advocates, paint a dire picture.

A Guatemalan detainee’s wife told CNN that her husband endured six days without a shower, inadequate food, and unreliable medical treatment.

Detainees have also reported sleep deprivation due to constant fluorescent lighting, exposure to extreme temperatures, and infestations of mosquitoes and other insects.

A Human Rights Watch report published on July 21, 2025, documented similar “abusive practices” at other Florida detention centers, including dangerously substandard medical care and restrictions on legal access.

Environmental concerns have also surfaced.

On its opening day, July 1, 2025, local reporter Jason Delgado captured footage of standing water inside the tented facility after a typical summer shower, raising questions about its structural integrity.

Florida officials claim the facility can withstand Category 2 hurricane winds, but critics argue the site, surrounded by alligator- and python-infested swampland, is unfit for human habitation.

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Political and Environmental Backlash

The facility, championed by Governor DeSantis and named “Alligator Alcatraz” by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, has been touted by Republicans as a secure, low-cost solution for detaining migrants.

DeSantis has defended the facility, stating on Newsmax that it “meets and exceeds federal standards” and that detainees can avoid detention by agreeing to immediate deportation.

However, the facility’s $450 million annual operating cost, partially reimbursable by FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security, has drawn criticism for its expense and environmental impact.

Environmental groups, including Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, filed a lawsuit before the facility’s opening, arguing that its construction violates the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act.

The Everglades, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to endangered species like the Florida panther and American crocodile.

Critics, including Betty Osceola of the Miccosukee tribe, have condemned the facility as a threat to sacred lands and ecologically sensitive wetlands.

Alligator Alcatraz has sparked broader concerns about the treatment of migrants in U.S. custody.

A Human Rights Watch report noted that nearly 72% of the 58,000 immigrants in ICE custody nationwide as of late June 2025 have no criminal history, challenging claims by Trump and DeSantis that detainees are “vicious” criminals.

The detention of a 15-year-old boy with no criminal record at Alligator Alcatraz, reported by the Miami Herald, further underscored operational oversights. State officials later admitted the minor was detained due to an unverified claim about his age.

The facility’s lack of transparency has compounded legal challenges.

Detainees do not appear in ICE’s public database, making it difficult for families and attorneys to locate them.

Democratic lawmakers have criticized the facility as a “theatricalization of cruelty,” while immigration advocates like Tessa Petit of the Florida Immigrant Coalition have called for its closure, describing conditions as “unlivable.”

As lawsuits pile up, Alligator Alcatraz remains a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration policy, environmental stewardship, and human rights.

The outcome of the August 18 hearing may determine whether the facility can continue operating in its current form or face significant reforms to address constitutional and humanitarian concerns.

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