Italian Nationals Held at Florida's Alligator Alcatraz: "We're Caged Like Chickens"

Two Italian citizens, Fernando Eduardo Artese, a 65-year-old Italo-Argentine, and Gaetano Cateno Mirabella Costa, a 45-year-old from Sicily, are currently detained at the Alligator Alcatraz immigration center in Florida, USA. This newly opened facility has sparked controversy due to the harsh conditions experienced by inmates. According to a report by EFE, Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring the situation of these individuals, maintaining contact with their families and seeking updated information about their health and potential repatriation dates.

"We're Caged Like Chickens"

Mirabella Costa, who has been at the center for eight days, stated to Tg2 news channel, "We are literally in a cage, like a chicken coop. Get us out of this nightmare. There are 32 people in one cage, the toilets are open, and everyone can see you." His mother, Rosanna Vitale, described how her son was taken to a hearing "with chains on his feet and hands, like a dog," and hasn't seen daylight for over 10 days. The detainee also claims he has no access to legal counsel or a judge.

Controversial Facility

Alligator Alcatraz, established on the site of an old airport in the Everglades, was opened on July 1 by President Donald Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis. Designed to house 5,000 detainees, the center aims to "contain 1,000 criminal foreigners" as part of Florida's stricter immigration policies. The facility is surrounded by alligators and pythons, serving as a deterrent against escape attempts. Nonetheless, human rights organizations have criticized the unsanitary conditions, where migrants sleep in overcrowded spaces, endure extreme heat, and drink water from taps connected to toilets. Activists report that at least six individuals have been hospitalized.

Legal Troubles and Awaiting Repatriation

Mirabella Costa was arrested on January 3, 2025, for possession of drugs without a prescription, assault, and violence against an elderly person over 65. After serving a six-month sentence in Marion County, his deportation to Italy was ordered due to immigration violations. Artese, on the other hand, was detained for lacking legal residency permits in the United States. Both men are awaiting repatriation and have complained about degrading treatment.

Italian Reaction

The detention of these Italian citizens has stirred significant debate in Italy. Matteo Renzi, leader of Italia Viva, harshly criticized Giorgia Meloni's administration on social media: "An Italian is locked up 'like a chicken' in Alligator Alcatraz, a center pushed by American sovereigntists. He is not allowed to call a lawyer. Is the government of patriots still serving Trump or intends to defend an Italian citizen's rights?" Other groups have also expressed disapproval, condemning the Trump administration and DeSantis' laws aimed at bolstering the country's immigration and security policies.

Youth Detained in Controversial Conditions

A 15-year-old Mexican boy, with no criminal record, was handcuffed and sent to Alligator Alcatraz, as reported by the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times. The teenager, known as Alexis, was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Florida Highway Patrol agents in Tampa and was later handed over to federal immigration authorities on July 1, according to El Nuevo Herald. His father told the media that his son spent three days in the temporary jail's tents and wire cells, making him one of the first immigrants transferred to the facility. Alexis, identified only by his first name as he is a minor, was moved from Alligator Alcatraz on July 4. He is now in the custody of the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, housed in a shelter for migrant children.