Mexican Brothers Held at Alligator Alcatraz Deported Without Charges

Two Mexican brothers held at the contentious Alligator Alcatraz detention center, located in the heart of the Florida Everglades, have been deported to Mexico without facing any charges, as confirmed by Mexico's Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (SRE). Carlos Martín González, aged 26, and Óscar Alejandro, aged 30, were apprehended in Orlando on July 7 and repatriated over the weekend, a result of consular efforts and collaboration with specialized legal teams, according to Roberto Velasco Álvarez, head of the North America Unit of the SRE.

"They are now back in our country without any charges and with valid documents," Velasco announced on social media platform X, acknowledging the "tireless work" of Mexican consulates in Orlando and Miami in assisting with the case. The official also praised the efforts of an attorney from the External Legal Advice Program and allies from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). "Dialogue with local and federal authorities enabled the voluntary departure of the young men this weekend," he emphasized.

The González brothers' case drew significant attention both in Mexico and internationally after details of their arrest and detention in the notorious immigration facility emerged. Situated amid Florida's famous wetlands, the center is notorious for its extreme isolation conditions. Carlos Martín was initially detained for a minor traffic violation while driving in Orlando and was taken to Alligator Alcatraz despite having a valid tourist visa and legal entry into the United States. Óscar Alejandro was arrested when he attempted to assist his brother; he is married to a U.S. citizen but had an expired residency permit.

Their father, Martín González, told the newspaper El País that traffic officers confiscated their documents and mobile phones at the time of arrest. "They are locked up with no access to anyone," he complained. "Their civil rights are being completely ignored."

Last Tuesday, during her regular morning press conference, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that 14 Mexican citizens were detained at the "Alligator Alcatraz" and that her government was working to ensure their prompt repatriation, reported CNN. More than 55% of the migrants held at Alligator Alcatraz are from Guatemala (22%), Mexico (21.5%), and Cuba (11.6%), according to a joint investigation by The Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times released earlier this month.

The report, based on official records accessed by both newspapers, revealed that 95% of the over 700 migrants detained at the facility are from Latin American countries, although individuals from more than 40 different nations are present. The investigation also found that over 250 detainees are held solely on immigration violations, with no history of violent crimes; a third have some form of criminal record.

The U.S. government recently began executing airborne deportations of unauthorized migrants from Alligator Alcatraz. Announcing the start of expulsions from the controversial Everglades detention center, Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis did not specify the number of flights conducted but recalled that the Trump Administration ordered the deportation of approximately 800,000 foreigners, with between 50,000 and 75,000 residing in Florida.

Alligator Alcatraz detention center opened on July 1 on an abandoned airstrip in the swampy area west of Miami. Initially designed to hold 2,000 detainees, plans are underway to expand its capacity to 4,000, according to Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM).

The operation of the center has sparked a wave of criticism. Days after its opening, numerous activists and families of migrants protested outside the facility, describing it as a "concentration camp" and "dog cage." A group of lawyers has petitioned a federal judge to intervene immediately, citing what they describe as a massive rights violation, with hundreds of immigrants held without formal charges, access to court hearings, or recognition of federal court jurisdiction over their cases.