Lawmakers Divided on Detainee Conditions in Controversial ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Facility

Democratic lawmakers recently visited Florida’s new immigration detention center, known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” and voiced serious concerns about its conditions. Following the tour, they described the facility as overcrowded, unsanitary, and infested with insects. In stark contrast, Republican lawmakers who also visited insisted that the facility was well-managed and clean, presenting a very different perspective.

This tour was arranged after Democratic lawmakers were previously blocked from accessing the 3,000-bed center located on a secluded airstrip in the Everglades swampland. The number of legislators and congressional representatives attending required them to be organized into multiple groups. U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz expressed her alarm about the conditions, stating, “There are really disturbing, vile conditions and this place needs to be shut the hell down.”

She reported witnessing overcrowded housing units, poor sanitation, and high temperatures inside the facility. Some detainees reportedly called out, expressing their distress. Republican State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia countered the Democrats’ claims, characterizing the facility as clean and safe, and noted that he did not observe any issues during his tour.

Another Republican senator echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that they found no evidence of unsanitary conditions. Lawmakers were not allowed to bring journalists, phones, or cameras into the facility, limiting outside observation. Reports from detainees and their advocates have painted a grim picture, claiming issues such as inadequate food and overflowing toilets.

However, a spokesperson for the Division of Emergency Management refuted these claims, asserting that the facility meets all necessary standards and provides detainees with adequate care. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers are advancing a lawsuit against the DeSantis administration regarding their earlier denial of access to the facility, citing concerns over their oversight role.