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Detention or Disappearance? Grave Violations at “Alligator Alcatraz” and Beyond
In a disturbing new report published on December 4, 2025, Amnesty International has outlined what it calls “harrowing human rights violations” at Florida’s state-run immigration detention facility, officially known as the Everglades Immigration Camp but dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by critics and detainees alike. According to the organization, detainees were subjected to cruel and degrading punishment, including confinement in 2-foot-high metal cages outdoors, shackling, denial of water, medical neglect, and systemic abuse, all without adequate oversight.
Shackles, Sun and Silence: Inside the Alleged Torture at Everglades Facility
The report alleges that detainees were locked in outdoor cages, referred to as “the box,” where they endured extreme heat, humidity and mosquito exposure. Some detainees remained in these cages for up to 24 hours, entirely deprived of water and medical attention. Punishments were reportedly arbitrary, including for those who merely attempted to advocate for others. In one case, a detainee stated that two people were punished simply for calling for medication on his behalf.
A Political Flashpoint: Trump, DeSantis and the Federal Role
Originally shuttered by a federal judge after a lawsuit by environmental groups, “Alligator Alcatraz” was reopened just weeks later after two Trump-appointed appellate judges overruled the closure. The facility’s resurrection under Governor Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump’s vocal support has drawn bipartisan scrutiny, especially given its $608 million reimbursement from FEMA and its operation outside traditional ICE oversight protocols.
Despite these alarming findings, Florida officials, including DeSantis spokesperson Molly Best, have denied all allegations, branding them “politically motivated fabrications” and defending the integrity of their staff.
More Than One Crisis: Krome Detention Center Also Under Fire
The report does not stop at Alligator Alcatraz. Amnesty also investigated conditions at the privately operated Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami. There, similar abuses were documented, including detainees being shackled with their hands behind their backs and forced to eat from the floor “like dogs.” Overcrowding was so severe that new detainees were forced to live on buses without toilets or air conditioning until space opened up. Medical neglect, prolonged solitary confinement, and racist verbal abuse from guards were reportedly widespread.
These reports follow a July investigation by Human Rights Watch, reinforcing that these conditions are neither isolated nor new.
No Tracking, No Transparency: A Legal Nightmare for Families
One of the most chilling aspects of Amnesty’s report is the systemic lack of transparency. The state-run Everglades facility reportedly lacks any formal tracking systems for detainees. Individuals were routinely transferred multiple times between detention centers, often without their families or legal teams being informed. Amnesty labels this a form of “incommunicado detention” and warns it could constitute “enforced disappearance” under international law.
Legal Recommendations and What Comes Next
Amnesty International concludes its report by calling on the federal and Florida state governments to immediately shut down Alligator Alcatraz and cease the criminalization of migration. The organization argues that mass detention must end and urges policy makers to reconsider the role of private and state-run immigration jails in U.S. immigration enforcement.
Amy Fischer, Director of Refugee and Migrant Rights at Amnesty, summarized the situation bluntly: “Medical neglect, filthy and inhuman conditions, and dehumanizing punishment, in some cases amounting to torture, is abhorrent. Federal and state officials must act immediately to end this human rights crisis”.
How Spar & Bernstein Can Help: A Legal Lifeline in a Broken System
In light of these revelations, the need for skilled immigration legal representation has never been more urgent. At Spar & Bernstein, our attorneys are prepared to act immediately on behalf of detained immigrants and their families. Whether your loved one is untraceable due to chaotic detention practices or facing imminent deportation under unjust conditions, we help clients navigate the labyrinthine system with compassionate, assertive legal advocacy.
Our firm has a long history of fighting for detainee rights, securing humanitarian parole, and initiating federal lawsuits when needed to protect constitutional and human rights. We can also assist families struggling to locate missing relatives or secure their release through bond motions, asylum filings or appeals.
If you or someone you know is affected by these inhumane conditions, do not wait. Contact Spar & Bernstein today to explore all legal options and begin restoring justice in a system currently failing too many.
Source: The Guardian. “Detainees at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ facing ‘harrowing human rights violations’, new report alleges.” December 4, 2025. Read full article .
