Detainees Report Dire Conditions at New Florida Immigration Center

Reports from inside the new immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades paint a grim picture. Detainees have described unsanitary conditions, including worms in the food, malfunctioning toilets leading to sewage on the floors, and a lack of access to showers or necessary medication. They also report constant issues with insects, lights left on throughout the night, and air conditioning failures in the tropical heat. Furthermore, detainees are reportedly forced to use recorded phone lines to communicate with their legal representatives and loved ones.

These accounts come just days after a tour of the facility, dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," by U.S. officials. The center, hastily constructed by the Florida Governor's administration on an isolated airstrip, began housing detainees on July 2nd. Attorneys, advocates, and families of those detained are speaking out about the conditions, with many expressing concerns about the violation of detainees' basic rights and dignity.

Government officials have disputed the accounts of the detainees, their attorneys, and family members, but have provided limited details and denied media access. A televised tour showcased rows of chain-link cages filled with bunkbeds under large white tents. Despite official claims that the facility meets all required standards, families and attorneys have relayed accounts of unsanitary conditions and inadequate medical care, leading to extreme distress among the detainees.

The harshness and remoteness of the detention center have been praised by some as a deterrent, intended to discourage immigration. However, among those held within the facility are individuals with no criminal records, including a teenage boy. Attorneys have reported a concerning lack of medical care, with detainees allegedly going days without showering, and toilets overflowing in the same space as the bunkbeds.

One woman, whose husband is detained, described the dire conditions, including infrequent meals with worms, and a hunger strike by the detainees to protest the situation. She also described the difficulty of communicating with her husband, with calls interrupted by recorded announcements. Attorneys are also reporting that their clients' due process rights are being denied.

Attorneys have faced difficulties in accessing their clients. One lawyer was denied access after traveling to the remote facility and waiting for hours. Another attorney's client, a DACA recipient, has been detained after being arrested for a minor offense. Another attorney is seeking the release of a client with no criminal record and a stay of removal, but has been unable to secure a bond hearing. The issue of jurisdiction and who is in charge of the facility remains a significant concern.