A former staff member of the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility, located in Florida's Everglades, has depicted the environment as a "giant kennel" and criticized the "inhumane" treatment of detainees. "The way they treat their residents is inhumane," declared Lindsey, who was employed at the facility for just a week before being dismissed after contracting COVID.
"They don't get sunlight. There's no clock. They don't even know what time of day it is. They have no access to showers. They bathe every other day or every four days," she recounted. "I thought things would get better. But they never did."
Lindsey began working at the center on July 6, according to documents she shared with Telemundo 51 and NBC6. She was hired by GardaWorld Federal Services, a security company managing the site under a contract with the state of Florida. Her role as a "corrections officer" was supposed to involve five-day shifts with two days off, earning $26 an hour, as per a LinkedIn post. However, she quickly realized something was amiss from the start.
Overcrowded Conditions and Personal Hardships
"When I arrived, it was overwhelming," Lindsey recalled. "I thought it would improve. But it never did." Her living arrangements consisted of a shared trailer. "We had to use portable toilets. Half the time, we had no hot water. Our toilets were clogged," she detailed.
Yet, what affected her the most were not her own conditions, but those of the hundreds of immigrants held inside the center. "Everything there looks like a giant kennel," Lindsey reiterated.
Each tent housing the detainees, she explained, contains eight large cages, with each cage holding between 35 and 38 people. That's roughly 300 individuals per tent, many of whom have no criminal background. "Not everyone there is a criminal," Lindsey pointed out.
Dire Living Conditions and Health Risks
"The bathrooms are clogged because so many people are using them," she added. Lindsey also mentioned that during rainy days, water seeps directly into the tents, and that the constant humidity, overcrowding, and mosquitoes are part of everyday life. "The conditions are miserable," she emphasized.
"These people are still human. They've been taken from their livelihoods. They're scared. They don't speak our language," she continued.
Dismissal, Accusations, and Unpaid Wages
Shortly after falling ill with COVID, Lindsey was fired. She was accused of "altering medical documents presented to the company," an allegation she strongly denies. "I was let go. And yes, I'm upset. But more than anything, they are in the wrong," she asserted.
She also reported that she was never paid for her work. When pressed by the media, GardaWorld refused to comment on her case and directed inquiries to state authorities. The Florida Division of Emergency Management, responsible for the site, also avoided answering and has previously denied allegations of inadequate conditions.
Lindsey's statements align with concerns raised by activists, families, and other former employees. A recent report from Human Rights Watch found that nearly 72% of those detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have no criminal record.
The Florida Department of Financial Services website reveals that GardaWorld Federal Services secured a contract worth nearly $38 million to staff the center, which was executed on August 2.
Insights on Alligator Alcatraz Detention Center
What are the main criticisms of Alligator Alcatraz detention center?
Critics claim the center's conditions are inhumane, likening it to a "giant kennel," with detainees lacking basic necessities such as sunlight, clocks, and regular access to showers.
Who manages the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility?
The facility is managed by GardaWorld Federal Services under a contract with the state of Florida.
How many detainees at the center have criminal records?
A report from Human Rights Watch indicates that nearly 72% of detainees at the center have no criminal record.