Cliff Notes: No distinction between night and day
- The ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention centre in Florida has drawn severe criticism for its inhumane conditions, with detainees describing it as akin to a “dog cage.”
- Critics highlight the facility’s lack of natural light and poor sanitation, resulting in serious health concerns among inmates, while government officials deny these allegations.
- Supporters of President Trump‘s immigration policies view the centre as an effective deterrent, leveraging its isolated location in the Everglades to prevent escapes and reduce costs.
Alligator Alcatraz detention centre compared to dog cage | Florida News
The already infamous ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration detention centre in Florida has been compared to a “dog cage” amid concerns over conditions there.
Once destined to be the world’s largest airport, the facility has instead become a symbol of the White House’s determination to deport migrants from America which it says do not have a right to be in the country.
One detainee described feeling “in a state of torture” while a family member of another said “not even sunlight gets in”.
Supporters of President Donald Trump’s harsh stance on immigration have praised the new detention centre, in particular how natural obstacles in the surrounding Everglades such as alligators make escape difficult.
But for critics, it’s a dehumanising place that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars to run each year.
Stories from inside Alligator Alcatraz
“It’s like a dog cage,” says detainee Rafael Collado, speaking to reporters on Tuesday over the phone from inside the facility.
In the comments, he said that a combination of floodwater from recent storms, limited access to showers and poor sanitation have caused him to get fungus on his feet.
He said detainees are stripped naked every time they are moved to a different cell and there was not a set schedule for him to take his blood pressure medication.
At this point, he said he was being told by a guard to hang up and ended the call.