Cubans held at Alligator Alcatraz in Florida have reported experiencing strange symptoms after staging a protest last week demanding their release.
"What they're doing to us is a grave injustice," one detainee communicated to CiberCuba.
He claimed that following the recent protest, where they demanded freedom, detainees have suffered from unusual symptoms such as drowsiness and loss of energy.
"The water tastes odd, and if you look at the tents now, everyone is asleep. It's very strange, and we believe they are putting something in the water to keep us sedated," he pointed out.
The wives of the detainees assert that "there are people there who served their time decades ago and never committed crimes again," they argued.
One woman explained that her 38-year-old husband suffers from severe migraines, and on Thursday, December 25, she was at Alligator Alcatraz trying to see him.
She visited the center in person as a form of protest against the detention of her husband and other Cubans in similar situations.
The accounts paint an alarming picture inside the facility. "Many have high fevers, joint pains, and extreme fatigue," they reported.
Several wives noted that the detainees exhibit peculiar behavior, similar among all of them.
"All the letters and calls were the same, like zombies: they would get up and fall back asleep. We don't know if something was put in the food. This isn't normal," one of them stated.
According to reports, the inmates lack the strength to even get out of bed.
Another woman shared that her husband, who frequently calls her, recently contacted her sounding "as if he were asleep."
"He told me everyone there is sleeping, without energy," she recounted.
Families suspect the symptoms started after detainees began consuming the facility's water, and they claim reports are circulating of people dying inside.
"They're playing with our families' lives," they protested.
The families' complaints follow a mass protest by hundreds of Cubans held at Alligator Alcatraz, who this weekend demanded their freedom and better detention conditions.
The demonstration, broadcasted by CiberCuba, showed inmates shouting "Freedom!" from inside the facility.
According to accounts, the protest erupted after an elderly man stripped in the dining hall out of desperation over poor food quality and was beaten by guards.
When other detainees protested, officers responded with violence and pepper spray.
Many protestors claimed to have already signed their deportation papers, yet they have been detained for 50, 70, and even 90 days without clear information about their immigration status.
"They're treating us as if we're on death row," one detainee remarked.
The wives and families demanded an immediate investigation into the sanitary conditions, water, and food in the center, as well as the release of those who have served their time or pose no threat.
They questioned why the human rights abuses of detainees at Alligator Alcatraz seem to go unnoticed.
They commented that no one speaks up for these individuals and no institutions are investigating or opposing the situation.
"This isn't just a legal issue; it's a humanitarian one," they concluded.
Concerns Over Health and Human Rights at Alligator Alcatraz
What symptoms are detainees at Alligator Alcatraz experiencing?
Detainees have reported symptoms such as drowsiness, loss of energy, high fevers, joint pains, and extreme fatigue.
What actions have the families of detainees taken?
The families have protested at the facility and demanded an investigation into the conditions and treatment of detainees. They are seeking the release of those who have served their time or pose no threat.
What triggered the recent protest at Alligator Alcatraz?
The protest was sparked by an incident where an elderly detainee stripped in the dining hall out of desperation over poor food and was subsequently beaten by guards, leading other detainees to protest.