Pedro Lorenzo Concepción, a Cuban migrant held at the Alligator Alcatraz detention center in Florida since July 9, has been on a hunger strike for nine days. Speaking to journalist Carla Gloria Colomé from the Spanish newspaper El País, Concepción elaborated on his reasons for the protest and the conditions he endures at this state-managed facility.
Protest and Incarceration
Concepción, who arrived in the United States in 2014, faced legal troubles for marijuana possession and involvement in a credit card fraud network. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attempted to deport him twice, but Cuba refused his return. He was detained again after a routine ICE check-in on July 8. On July 22, after two weeks at Alligator Alcatraz, he began a hunger strike to protest his treatment.
Over the phone, Concepción expressed the toll the strike has taken on his body: "I feel weakness and a lot of acidity. Today marks eight days without eating," he said. "I feel like my life is no longer in my hands. It's up to them to decide if I live or die because I can't face another year of uncertainty, being locked up for 90 days again."
Detention Conditions
Concepción described the harsh conditions at the detention center: "It's run like a high-security prison. They tie you to the floor for about 12 hours." He also highlighted the lack of privacy: "Meals are served cold, showers are taken with doors open, and toilets in cells have no doors." The absence of clocks or televisions, constant night lighting, and minimal medical care add to the grim environment. Concepción, weakened by the hunger strike, has suffered falls and relies on fellow inmates to help him move.
After one fall, he was hospitalized but refused medical treatment or food, leaving a written statement of his decision. "I don't want food; I refuse any treatment. I didn't ask to go to the hospital because I'm fighting for my family and all Cubans and should be where they are, facing the same struggles," his statement read. His wife, Daimarys Hernández, learned of his hospital transfer through another detainee's partner and confirmed his stay at Kendall Hospital for three days, during which he continued his strike.
Challenging the Immigration System
Concepción's protest goes beyond his personal plight, criticizing the broader immigration policies. "They don't consider the consequences of taking away someone's freedom. It's not right," he stated. He emphasized the uncertainty faced by migrants under prolonged detention orders: "I can't keep living in uncertainty, wondering if I'll be picked up next year. They're playing with people's lives." He concluded that his fate lies in the authorities' hands: "They decide if I live or die."
Nearly 500 Deportations from Alligator Alcatraz
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed that nearly 500 migrants have been deported from Alligator Alcatraz. The facility, situated at a former airport in the Everglades, has become a strategic deportation hub, as explained by DeSantis at the Florida Sheriffs Association summer conference.
The center, operating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), allows direct deportations from Florida and transfers to other states for final flights. "They move detainees to states like Louisiana to group them by nationality for further deportation," DeSantis said. Opened by President Donald Trump on July 3, the facility was converted into a migrant center by the state government and has a capacity of 2,000, expected to expand to 4,000.
Legal Battles and Allegations of Inhumane Conditions
The detention operations at Alligator Alcatraz have sparked controversy. Federal judges have asked for clarity on its management amid two ongoing lawsuits: one from migrant rights advocates and another from environmental groups. Both claim authorities have not identified who is ultimately responsible for the center, potentially evading legal obligations regarding environmental and human rights.
Recently, protests have erupted at the center, with activists and detainees' families labeling it a "concentration camp" and "dog cage." Civil organizations have documented over 1,000 detentions since its opening, with six hospitalizations for various reasons.
Understanding Alligator Alcatraz and Its Impact
What led Pedro Lorenzo Concepción to start a hunger strike?
Pedro Lorenzo Concepción began his hunger strike to protest the conditions and treatment at Alligator Alcatraz, as well as the broader injustices he perceives in the U.S. immigration system.
What conditions are reported at Alligator Alcatraz?
Conditions include a lack of privacy, cold meals, constant lighting, and minimal medical care. Detainees are subjected to harsh treatment, akin to high-security prisons.
How has the Alligator Alcatraz facility been utilized since its opening?
The facility has been used as a deportation hub, facilitating the removal of migrants directly from Florida or transferring them to other states for final deportation flights.