Immigrants held in small outdoor cages at 'Alligator Alcatraz' in Florida, investigators find

Key Points:

• Immigrants detained at Florida's now-closed "Alligator Alcatraz" were confined in small metal cages measuring about 18 sq ft for up to two hours, a practice deemed unprecedented and dangerous by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
• The facility, built rapidly in 2025 in the Everglades and funded federally but operated by Florida state authorities under Governor DeSantis, faced criticism for inhumane conditions including cramped living spaces and bug-infested showers used only three times a week.
• The OIG report highlighted that these cages, labeled as "calming areas," were sometimes used as disciplinary measures, contradicting humane treatment standards.
• The detention center, notorious for its harsh conditions and located in a wildlife-rich area, was closed in June 2026 after being designated as a temporary facility.
• The OIG, an independent DHS watchdog appointed during the Trump administration, conducted a surprise inspection in January 2026, uncovering these violations amid ongoing civil rights concerns.