After saving for months, Carla Artese and her family embarked on a cross-country road trip to start a new life abroad, but their journey was cut short when police arrested Fernando, Carla’s undocumented immigrant father, for a warrant. He was subsequently detained and transferred to Alligator Alcatraz, a newly built, secretive immigration detention facility in the Everglades. Fernando describes the facility as a “Hispanic concentration camp,” citing the chaotic and unsanitary conditions he and other detainees are enduring. Facing limited access to legal representation, Fernando, who wants to self-deport, and his family are now working towards a way to get him out of the facility.
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The Trump administration has ceased reporting the number of transgender people in immigration detention, a move that began in February amid a surge in overall detention numbers and the rescinding of protections for transgender individuals. This action, which appears to violate a congressional mandate, makes it difficult for advocates to monitor the safety of transgender immigrants, who are especially vulnerable to violence and neglect. Prior to this change, data showed an increase in self-identified transgender detainees, although experts acknowledged undercounting due to various factors. Furthermore, related documents, like a memorandum from 2015 on care for transgender people in ICE custody, are no longer available, raising concerns about the erasure of protections and the broader context of mistreatment faced by trans immigrants.
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In a legal challenge, five Florida lawmakers are suing Governor Ron DeSantis, alleging he overstepped his authority by denying them access to a newly constructed immigration detention center in the Everglades, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz”. The lawmakers argue the governor unlawfully restricted legislative oversight, as Florida law grants them access to state correctional facilities. The suit contends that the denial was a deliberate obstruction to hide activities within the facility, which the plaintiffs believe is a violation of the law. Despite the lawsuit, the DeSantis administration plans to move forward with tours of the facility while calling the lawsuit frivolous.
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Cuban reggaeton artist Leamsy La Figura, real name Leamsy Isquierdo, is currently detained at the Alligator Alcatraz immigration facility in the Everglades after being arrested in Miami-Dade and charged with aggravated assault. Detainees, including La Figura, are alleging inhumane conditions within the facility. These complaints include a lack of access to water, inadequate and unsanitary food, denial of religious rights, and insufficient medical care. Authorities have yet to respond to these claims.
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A recent YouGov poll reveals that nearly half of Americans disapprove of the new “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center in the Florida Everglades, with only a third supporting it. The controversial facility, designed to house undocumented migrants, is situated on the site of a disused airport and can accommodate up to 5,000 people. Notably, 47 percent of respondents believe detainees are being treated too severely by ICE. The center has been met with enthusiasm from conservatives, while former President Trump visited the site, hinting at expanding similar facilities.
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Florida Democratic lawmakers were denied entry to the Alligator Alcatraz immigrant detention facility despite claiming legal authority for a site visit. Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried questioned what the DeSantis administration was hiding, as the facility is taxpayer-funded and lawmakers have a right to inspect it. The lawmakers expressed concerns about the conditions for detainees before the visit. The facility, built in the Everglades, began housing detainees and is projected to accommodate thousands when fully operational.
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During a Fox News interview, Stephen Miller defended the new Florida migrant detention facility, “Alligator Alcatraz,” claiming it isn’t “dehumanizing,” but rather, the entry of undocumented immigrants into the country is. He argued that the facility, located in the Everglades, will house the “worst of the worst” and provide superior care to detainees while also ensuring security. Miller’s assertions come despite data showing a small percentage of detainees have serious criminal backgrounds, with the majority having no criminal history. When asked about Elon Musk’s threats to back primary challenges against GOP members who support Trump’s spending bill, Miller doubled down, stating that opposing the bill would be the same as opposing the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants.
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Recent filings from immigrant advocates reveal disturbing conditions within Texas detention centers, with families detailing accounts of inadequate water, limited medical care, and psychological trauma. These testimonies were collected as part of a lawsuit aimed at preventing the Trump administration from terminating the Flores Settlement Agreement, which mandates safe and sanitary conditions for detained immigrant children. The lawsuit is especially crucial as the administration increases arrests and considers indefinite detention, potentially exacerbating the already challenging circumstances. Without the oversight provided by the Flores agreement, advocates fear a decline in facility standards and increased difficulty in documenting abuses.
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A 64-year-old Iranian woman living in the US for 47 years was detained by immigration agents in New Orleans, despite having no criminal record. Her asylum request was denied, but she was granted a stay of removal, which she reportedly complied with. Her arrest, which occurred shortly after US airstrikes in Iran, took place alongside the detentions of other Iranian nationals. Her family is currently struggling to secure legal representation due to the high volume of detainees and limited resources, while ICE has recently conducted multiple raids leading to additional arrests.
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A 68-year-old Mexican-born man died while being transported by a private company from a local jail to a federal detention center, marking the first such death in at least a decade. The cause of death is under investigation, but the events surrounding the incident are confusing, with the family seeking answers. The case raises concerns about the increasing reliance on private companies to transport detainees amid the current administration’s focus on mass deportations and a lack of oversight, which experts predict could lead to more deaths.
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John Q. Hosedrinker