Federal Watchdog Report Details Unconventional Conditions and Metal Enclosures at Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' Detention Center

The report highlights federal findings regarding detention conditions and operational oversight standards at a high-profile state-run immigration facility that housed hundreds of detainees.

• •Nearly 80 immigrant detainees were held in small metal enclosures measuring about 18 square feet for periods ranging from several minutes to nearly 2 hours between July 17, 2025, and January 18, 2026.
• •Facility staff described the metal enclosures as 'calming areas' for de-escalation, but inspectors found at least one instance where they may have been used as a disciplinary tool.
• •The 34-page inspector general report stated that the practice was unlike anything observed in ICE facilities and did not align with humane treatment standards.
• •Inspectors found the facility complied with intake and use-of-force standards, but failed to meet standards for medical service, food service, and personal hygiene.
• •Detainees reported lacking access to clean drinking water, showering three times a week, and encountering bug-infested showers.
• •Eight housing units held between 22 and 31 individuals each, falling below the required standard of 75 square feet per detainee.
• •The facility was opened by the state in summer 2025 on the runway of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport and ceased operations in mid-June.
• •The Department of Homeland Security stated in a management response that it did not have a contract with Florida to manage detention space and that the state maintained authority over daily operations.