Lawmakers Decry “Alligator Alcatraz” as Concentration Camp: “Inhumane Conditions”
Following previous denials, Democratic lawmakers were finally granted a tour of the Everglades detention center, a facility housing approximately 900 individuals as part of a “mass deportation” initiative. Despite being unable to speak with detainees or closely examine their living conditions, the lawmakers described disturbing conditions, including overcrowded cages, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient food. They reported that the administration displayed areas of the facility that were not occupied and restricted access to certain areas. The lawmakers expressed concern over the facility’s high operational costs and questioned the circumstances of detainees held there, citing the fact that many were not convicted of or even charged with a crime.