DHS watchdog flags inhumane outdoor cages at Florida detention site dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz'

A DHS Office of Inspector General report found that the shuttered Florida detention center nicknamed 'Alligator Alcatraz' kept migrants in small outdoor cages of about 18 square feet for stretches up to nearly two hours as a 'calming' measure, while failing to meet hygiene, medical, food and safety standards. A total of 79 detainees were held there from July 2025 to January 2026. The facility was run by Florida authorities (not federal officials) with federal funding, and authorities indicated it would close as a temporary measure, drawing sharp criticism from civil rights groups and watchdogs.