Report Details ‘Harrowing’ Abuses at Florida Migrant Jails

A new investigation by Amnesty International, released Thursday, alleges that migrants held at a notorious Florida detention center, colloquially known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” endured severe human rights violations, including being confined in a small outdoor metal cage for extended periods without access to water. The international human rights organization asserts that individuals detained at the state-operated Everglades facility, as well as the privately managed Krome immigration processing center in Miami, were subjected to “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment,” which, in some instances, escalated to torture.

Allegations of ‘The Box’ and Arbitrary Punishment

The report, compiled from interviews with former detainees, advocacy groups, and a September site visit by Amnesty workers to Krome, describes a particular punishment device known to detainees as “the box.” This 2-foot-high metal cage was reportedly used by guards at “Alligator Alcatraz” for arbitrary discipline, even for minor or non-existent infractions. Detainees were allegedly shackled inside this cage and left exposed to the elements—the intense South Florida sun, humidity, and mosquitoes—for up to a full day without water.

One former detainee recounted a harrowing experience to Amnesty International: “It’s a box outside, exposed to the south Florida sun and humidity, and exposed to mosquitos. One time, two people in my cell were calling out to the guards telling them that I needed my medication. Ten guards rushed into the cell and threw them to the ground. They were taken to the ‘box’ and punished just for trying to help me. I saw a guy who was put in it for an entire day.”

Broader Concerns at Detention Centers

While “Alligator Alcatraz” is operated by the Florida Department of Emergency Management (DEM) independently of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, the Amnesty report extends its concerns to the Krome immigration processing center. Krome is managed by a private company on behalf of the Trump administration, and the report indicates similar patterns of “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment” there, with some cases reaching the threshold of torture.

State Officials Deny Allegations

In response to the Amnesty International report, Florida officials vehemently denied the accusations. Molly Best, press secretary for Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, dismissed the findings in a statement to The Guardian, labeling them “nothing more than a politically motivated attack.”

“None of these fabrications are true,” Best asserted. “In fact, running these allegations without any evidence whatsoever could jeopardize the safety and security of our staff and those being housed at Alligator Alcatraz.” The Florida DEM has also previously issued denials regarding any mistreatment of migrants held at the remote camp, which opened in July following a high-profile visit.

Despite official denials, the Amnesty International report underscores significant humanitarian concerns regarding the treatment of migrants awaiting deportation in Florida’s detention facilities. The detailed accounts of confinement in “the box” and the broader allegations of degrading treatment highlight a critical need for independent oversight and investigation into conditions at these centers.

Source: The Guardian