A former employee of the Alligator Alcatraz detention center, located in the Everglades, Florida, has come forward with allegations of abuse and medical neglect just 10 days after starting his job. He witnessed degrading treatment of migrants, including severe medical neglect. According to him, while the official policy is for detainees to remain no longer than two weeks, some have been there for over 25 days.
The whistleblower, who requested anonymity during an interview with Univision Noticias, described a dire environment where seriously ill migrants do not receive appropriate care. He mentioned a young man with colon cancer not receiving the necessary diet or conditions for treatment and another individual with an open foot wound at risk of losing his leg. The former worker claimed he never saw a doctor on site, only nurses or practitioners, and stated that detainee protests over their treatment often result in transfers to solitary confinement, sometimes with visible injuries from beatings.
He also accused some non-Spanish-speaking guards of mocking, insulting, and physically intimidating the migrants. The conditions, he said, are worse than those in federal maximum-security prisons. Desperation has led several detainees to express suicidal thoughts due to the unbearable pressure and conditions.
His experiences during his brief employment compelled him to resign and publicly expose what he considers severe human rights violations. Previously, another former employee described Alligator Alcatraz as an “oversized kennel” and criticized the “inhumane” conditions, where detainees lack sunlight, clocks, and regular access to showers, often bathing every two to four days. Lindsey, who worked there for a week before being dismissed after contracting COVID, emphasized these degrading conditions.
Immigration attorney Victor Martinez also reported delays, stating he waited 10 days for permission to visit his six clients at the center. He criticized the constant surveillance during his meetings, which he believes compromises attorney-client confidentiality. These testimonies align with concerns from activists, families, and other former employees about the facility’s overcrowding, lack of medical care, poor nutrition, and absence of privacy.
Opened in July 2025 on a former Everglades airport site, Alligator Alcatraz has been labeled a “concentration camp” for migrants by activists and human rights organizations. Although designed for 2,000 detainees, with plans to expand to 4,000, the center has faced protests, lawsuits, and numerous allegations of inhumane conditions. A recent Human Rights Watch report revealed that nearly 72% of detainees held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have no criminal records.
Last week, federal judge Kathleen Williams in Miami temporarily halted the center’s expansion for 14 days to review claims that the project violates federal environmental laws. The ruling allows the facility to continue housing detainees for ICE but prohibits any additional construction or infrastructure development during the restriction period. This legal action follows a lawsuit filed on July 17 by environmental groups and the Miccosukee tribe, arguing that the center threatens protected wetlands and jeopardizes years of investment in Everglades ecosystem restoration.
Key Concerns About Alligator Alcatraz Detention Center
What are the main allegations against Alligator Alcatraz?
The main allegations include abuse, medical neglect, degradation of migrants, and violations of human rights, as reported by former employees and legal representatives.
How have former employees described the conditions at the center?
Former employees have described the conditions as inhumane, likening the center to an “oversized kennel,” with detainees lacking sunlight, clocks, and regular access to showers.
What actions have been taken against the expansion of the detention center?
A federal judge temporarily halted the center’s expansion to review claims that the project violates federal environmental laws, following a lawsuit by environmental groups and the Miccosukee tribe.