Forced to Kneel? Inside “Alligator Alcatraz,” Florida’s Controversial New ICE Jail

Detainees say Miami’s “Alligator Alcatraz” denies water, serves maggot‑ridden food, and keeps lights on 24/7. Here’s why the Everglades jail is under fire.

 
A jail built in days, surrounded by alligators
When Florida officials green‑lit “Alligator Alcatraz,” they set it on a disused airfield deep in the Everglades, 50 miles west of Miami. State Attorney General James Uthmeier boasted that predatory wildlife would act as a “natural perimeter,” helping ICE and the Trump administration house surging numbers of immigration detainees. Environmental groups and local tribes were blindsided, warning of ecosystem damage and cultural disruption.ABC7 Los Angeles

Construction finished in barely two weeks, and the first busload of detainees arrived on July 3, 2025.CBS News Officials describe the site as “temporary,” but its 5,000‑bed capacity suggests something more permanent—and more lucrative—than an emergency overflow camp.

Voices from behind the razor wire
Inside, the picture darkens. Cuban reggaeton artist Leamsy “La Figura” Isquierdo, transferred from Miami‑Dade’s Turner Guilford Knight jail, phoned local reporters to describe “horrific conditions.”

“There’s over 400 people here. There’s no water to take a bath. The food has maggots. They never turn off the lights. Mosquitoes are as big as elephants.”CBS News
The allegations echo decades‑old complaints about ICE detention—only now the backdrop is a swamp, not a repurposed county jail. Other detainees say religious practices are denied, medical appointments delayed, and outdoor time nonexistent.

Why this matters beyond Florida
Scale and precedent. With immigration arrests climbing past 56,000 people in custody nationwide, Alligator Alcatraz is a prototype for large, remote detention hubs that can be erected quickly with minimal local oversight.
Legal gray zones. By planting the facility on state‑commandeered land and labeling it “temporary,” Florida skirts many federal detention standards—yet ICE still runs the show.

Environmental stakes. Big Cypress Preserve is habitat for endangered panthers, orchids, and hundreds of bird species. A 39‑square‑mile barbed‑wire campus could fragment ecosystems and pollute wetlands.
Human rights on collision course with enforcement
Civil‑rights lawyers argue that forcing detainees to endure days without showers and sleep under constant light violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the U.S. is a signatory. They point out that most detainees have no criminal record and are being held on civil immigration infractions.

Meanwhile, Florida officials frame harsh conditions as “rumor” and insist the jail meets “all applicable standards.”CBS News Yet ICE’s own detention guidelines mandate access to potable water, adequate hygiene, and at least eight hours of lights‑out rest—standards apparently unmet by detainee testimony.

Environmentalists join forces with immigrant advocates
Opposition has forged an unusual coalition: Friends of the Everglades, Miccosukee tribal leaders, Catholic Charities, and the ACLU have filed parallel suits in federal court. One seeks an emergency injunction based on endangered‑species threats; the other targets alleged Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment violations.

What happens next?
Legal clock: Judges could rule within weeks on whether to halt new transfers until conditions improve.
Federal oversight: Several House Democrats have asked DHS’s Inspector General to audit Alligator Alcatraz.
Public scrutiny: Social‑media campaigns (#CloseAlligatorAlcatraz, #HumansNotNumbers) are amplifying detainee voices and pressuring brands that donate to Florida political committees.
How you can help
Donate to Americans for Immigrant Justice’s rapid‑response fund.
Call your members of Congress and ask for an IG inspection of ICE facilities in South Florida.
Share detainee stories responsibly—link to original reporting from CBS Miami and ABC7 to avoid misinformation.
 
Bottom line
Alligator Alcatraz illustrates the next frontier of immigration enforcement: bigger camps in more remote places, built faster than watchdogs can react. The testimonies coming from inside—scarce water, rotten food, perpetual light—should raise alarms far beyond Florida. As lawsuits mount and environmental stakes climb, the Everglades jail could become a national litmus test for how far the U.S. is willing to stretch human‑rights norms in the name of border control. Whether Alligator Alcatraz stands or falls will say much about America’s priorities in 2025—and about whose dignity we consider negotiable.

 
Primary sources: CBS Miami report on detainee conditions (July 9 2025) CBS News, ABC7/ABC News coverage of the facility’s creation and environmental backlash (June 29 2025) ABC7 Los Angeles