Yaris, a Cuban woman, has organized a support group for mothers, wives, and children of those detained at the Alligator Alcatraz facility, where her husband Reinaldo has recently been incarcerated. "They shattered our family, tore it apart. I am doing everything I can to raise my voice, hoping someone will listen and help us, because it's not true that they are criminals," Yaris expressed in an emotional interview with Univision.
She acknowledged that Reinaldo made a mistake in his youth, stating, "Yes, he did, and no one is hiding that, but he served the punishment given to him." Reinaldo had previously served a sentence and probation for a drug-related offense.
Reinaldo, speaking by phone, emphasized the importance of staying strong amidst his current predicament. When asked about his thoughts while in detention, he responded, "My family, my children, my grandchildren, my wife, but as I say, you have to be strong because as long as I am strong here, I know they will be strong out there." He added, "I love them all; they know that wherever I am, I will love them."
Multiple detainees have exposed alleged inhumane conditions within the facility. Yaris reported that inmates are forced to use overflowing latrines, with contaminated water reaching the sleeping areas. However, the Florida Division of Emergency Management dismissed these claims as false.
Concerns Over Facility Management and Conditions
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has demanded that the State of Florida allow the county to oversee the Alligator Alcatraz detention center, which is built on county land within the Everglades. "Regardless of the State taking control through emergency powers, it's Miami-Dade taxpayers who own this property," she asserted.
In a video on social media platform X, Levine Cava voiced her worries about the lack of transparency, reported conditions by detainees, and the environmental implications of the project. She has called for access to the site and real-time remote monitoring. Levine Cava formalized her demands through letters to senior officials.
In a letter to State Attorney James Uthmeier, she requested "monitoring access to the state facility known as 'Alligator Alcatraz,'" along with the right to send county teams to verify the center's conditions and environmental impact. "Given the environmental significance of the Everglades and increasing concerns about unsafe conditions at these facilities, transparency with our community is crucial," she emphasized. She also demanded weekly reports on the detention center's situation.
Additionally, she wrote to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, seeking a detailed report on deaths under ICE custody in Florida this year.
Background on the Controversial Detention Center
The facility was inaugurated on July 2, constructed in just over a week on an abandoned airstrip within the Big Cypress National Preserve, 40 miles west of Miami. Designed as an emergency camp with climate-controlled tents, it can house up to 3,000 people under the watch of 400 guards and 200 cameras. The project has an estimated annual cost of $450 million.
Despite restricted media access and a lack of official data, reports suggest that at least 400 individuals have already been relocated to the installation. A delegation of Democratic state legislators attempted to visit but were denied entry due to security concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alligator Alcatraz
What are the alleged conditions at Alligator Alcatraz?
Reports from detainees suggest they are facing inhumane conditions, such as using overflowing latrines and being exposed to contaminated water in sleeping areas. However, officials have denied these claims.
Who is overseeing the Alligator Alcatraz detention center?
The State of Florida currently oversees the facility, but Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has requested the county be allowed to monitor and inspect it due to its location on county land.
What is the capacity and cost of the detention center?
The center can house up to 3,000 detainees and is monitored by 400 guards and 200 cameras, with an estimated annual cost of $450 million.