Cuban-American Mayor of Miami Speaks Out Against Alligator Alcatraz: "I'm an Immigrant"

Miami's first Cuban-American mayor, Xavier Suárez, is raising his voice in protest. In an interview with public radio station WLRN, the seasoned politician and former Miami-Dade County commissioner voiced his strong opposition to the immigrant detention center recently constructed in the Everglades, known as "Alligator Alcatraz." "I've always been pro-immigrant. I'm an immigrant myself, how could I not be?" Suárez declared with firm conviction. Born in Cuba in 1949 and arriving in the United States with his family after the rise of Castro's regime, Suárez personally understands the challenges of starting anew in a foreign land, driven by authoritarianism and seeking freedom.

Drawing from his experience as a local leader and attorney, the former mayor warned that the detention project is not only problematic from a humanitarian standpoint but also poses ecological concerns: "It saddens me to see people treated with the same rhetoric they use. Moreover, this facility poses an environmental risk to a fragile ecosystem like the Everglades."

Recently unveiled by President Donald Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis, the center has faced significant criticism. Constructed in just eight days on a deserted airstrip in the heart of the Big Cypress National Preserve, the detention center is encircled by more than 8,500 meters of barbed wire and surrounded by alligators, pythons, and a mosquito infestation that even repellent can't deter. Reporters like Alexis Boentes and Joel Franco captured on video the harrowing conditions, even during brief visits: "Beware of the mosquitoes, not the alligators," one advised. Influencer Benny Johnson, a Trump supporter, described it succinctly: "What a hellhole!"

Images from inside reveal cages covered by tents in the sweltering heat and humidity. Activists argue that the site is nothing more than an "inhumane internment camp" disguised as a migration solution.

Cuban Detainee Speaks Out: "This is Hell"

Complaints about the conditions at Alligator Alcatraz are far from theoretical. Recently, Cuban reggaeton artist Leamsy "La Figura", held in ICE custody, described in a phone call: "I haven't bathed in four days. We're in a cage with the lights on all the time, and the mosquitoes are as big as elephants." He also highlighted the extreme cold, lack of hygiene, and mistreatment by staff.

His case, shared widely across social media and by Cuban influencers, has raised alarms about the conditions in which hundreds of migrants are confined, without access to natural light or medical care. "Everyone's shivering, yelling their heads off," he said.

Trump Mocks, Suárez Speaks Up

During the inauguration ceremony, Trump didn't miss the chance to make light of the situation: "We'll teach them how to escape an alligator... run in a zigzag," he joked. He also claimed that the center would house "some of the most vicious migrants on the planet," bolstering the fear-driven narrative central to his agenda.

The president was joined by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who revealed that the center would be partially funded by FEMA, money initially intended for natural disasters. The estimated budget exceeds $450 million annually.

Human rights organizations, environmentalists, and community members are rallying to demand the project's closure. Legal challenges citing the lack of environmental impact studies have already been filed, and protests outside the center have drawn dozens of people carrying signs demanding humane treatment for migrants.