Detainees held at a remote immigration detention facility in the Florida Everglades are reporting horrifying conditions, including a lack of water for bathing, extreme heat, no access to lawyers, and massive mosquito infestations.

Nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” by Republican officials, the facility was hastily erected in recent weeks and is touted by the Trump administration as a high-security center surrounded by alligators and snakes. But reports from inside paint a grim picture of neglect and psychological distress.

“There’s over 400 people here. There’s no water to take a bath. It’s been four days,” said Leamsy La Figura, a Cuban musician detained on aggravated assault charges, in an interview with CBS News Miami.

Dehumanizing Conditions

According to multiple reports, detainees — many of whom are awaiting immigration hearings or resolution of minor criminal charges — are enduring:

  • No running water for bathing or flushing toilets

  • Meals served only once a day, reportedly with maggots in the food

  • Bright lights kept on 24/7, preventing sleep

  • Sweltering heat and extreme mosquito infestations

“The mosquitoes are as big as elephants,” La Figura added. One woman told The Miami Herald that her husband had seen some of the largest mosquitoes in his life inside the facility.

Others described going days without access to medication, while at least one detainee was reportedly taken to the hospital.

Legal Access Severely Restricted

Several family members and advocates say access to immigration counsel is nearly impossible.

“They don’t have water, they can’t use the bathroom properly. They’re not taking a bath,” said Eveling Ortiz, whose partner is detained. “They can’t even call an attorney.”

One attorney has reportedly been blocked from contacting a client being held inside the facility.

Official Denials and Growing Outrage

A spokesperson for Florida’s Division of Emergency Management denied the allegations, stating that all plumbing is operational and environmental conditions are “minimized.”

“This is a false narrative,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) echoed on X, formerly Twitter, claiming that complaints were exaggerated.

However, local reporting and firsthand accounts from detainees tell a different story — one of widespread distress and human rights concerns at a facility many describe as inhumane and unregulated.

Growing National Scrutiny

The conditions at “Alligator Alcatraz” come amid a larger crackdown under the Trump administration’s immigration policies, which include mass deportation efforts and new funding to expand ICE operations.

On June 3, ICE made a record-breaking 2,200 arrests in a single day, and reports suggest the administration aims to increase this to 3,000 per day.

For author: Staff Writer
Courtesy of: Forbes
Source: HuffPost