A 15-year-old Mexican teenager, who had no previous criminal record, was mistakenly detained at the controversial Alligator Alcatraz detention center in Florida. State authorities confirmed to the Miami Herald that the minor spent three days there, confined alongside adults.
The teenager, known as Alexis, was apprehended on July 1 by Florida Highway Patrol officers in Tampa while traveling as a passenger in a vehicle. After being handed over to federal immigration officials, he was handcuffed and transported to the detention center located in the Everglades, commonly referred to as Alligator Alcatraz.
Throughout his stay, neither his family nor his attorney, Katie Blankenship, were able to contact or visit him. His legal defense highlighted that the young man was placed with adults in mesh metal cages and tents, facing overcrowding and lacking access to medical care or legal advice.
Initially, the administration under Governor Ron DeSantis denied Alexis' presence at the facility. However, they later admitted it when confronted with documentary evidence. Authorities claimed the minor lied about his age to avoid being separated from his companions, a fact Alexis later acknowledged.
The situation was resolved after his father, Ignacio, sent a copy of Alexis' birth certificate via WhatsApp. On July 4, Alexis was finally moved to a shelter managed by the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, where he remains under custody.
Alexis' case adds to growing concerns about the swift and broad detainment and relocation of immigrants by state and federal authorities, even those without criminal records, to the newly inaugurated facility. Critics have widely condemned the conditions at the center, which include inadequate water supply, poor food quality, unsanitary environments, and a lack of legal and medical communication.
Alligator Alcatraz opened on July 3, 2025, in the Everglades, designed to hold up to 5,000 adult detainees. It is operated by Florida with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Media reports indicate that approximately 35% of the more than 700 detainees, about 250 individuals, face no criminal charges, only immigration violations.
Governor DeSantis defended the use of emergency funds to construct the facility, while Democrats and NGOs have labeled it a "internment camp" and have filed lawsuits alleging violations of civil and environmental rights.
Concerns About Alligator Alcatraz Detention Center
Why was Alexis detained at Alligator Alcatraz?
Alexis was mistakenly detained by Florida Highway Patrol and handed over to federal immigration officials, leading to his confinement at Alligator Alcatraz despite having no criminal record.
What are the conditions at Alligator Alcatraz?
Reports criticize the detention center for inadequate water, poor food quality, unsanitary conditions, and lack of access to legal and medical resources.
How did Alexis' situation get resolved?
Alexis' father provided proof of his age by sending a birth certificate via WhatsApp, which led to his transfer to a shelter managed by the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement.