Immigrants Detained in Small Cages at Florida Facility, Report Finds
A recent report by the DHS Office of the Inspector General disclosed that immigrants at the now-closed "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center in Florida were kept in metal cages measuring around 18 square feet. The facility's conditions raised significant concerns regarding the treatment of detainees.
Sources
A government watchdog report revealed that detainees at Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" federal immigration jail were confined in metal cages, about 18 square feet in size—less than half the minimum required by ICE—raising concerns about inhumane treatment. Between July 2025 and January 2026, guards placed detainees in these cages for up to two hours at a time on 79 occasions. The facility closed in June 2026 after detaining over 21,000 immigrants, amid criticism of its cost of $1.2 million daily and allegations of human rights abuses.
A report from the US Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General revealed that immigrants at the now-closed "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center in Florida were kept in 18-square-foot cages for up to nearly two hours, a practice deemed unprecedented and dangerous. Between July 2025 and January 2026, 79 immigrants were held in these restrictive spaces, which the report described as "calming areas," highlighting serious deficiencies in hygiene, medical care, and basic living conditions. Detainees reported inadequate access to clean drinking water, limited showering opportunities, and unsanitary facilities, raising concerns about humanitarian standards at the center.