Immigrant detainees at a state-managed facility in the Florida Everglades, dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ have raised serious concerns about the conditions they are enduring.
Reports from detainees and their families indicate severe issues such as a lack of water, electricity outages, and an overwhelming presence of mosquitoes.
Vladimir Miranda, a Cuban migrant who has been held at the facility since Sunday, expressed his frustration over repeated power outages that have hindered basic necessities.
‘Right now the generators apparently can’t cope and the electricity is going out,’ Miranda said during a phone call with Telemundo 51.
He described how the outages lead to a disruption in water supply, as well as making phones and air conditioning nonoperational, forcing detainees to endure high temperatures.
His girlfriend, Eveling Ortiz, shared concerns about the conditions, stating, ‘The conditions they’re going through are horrible. They don’t have water, they can’t use the bathroom properly. They’re not taking a bath.’
Ortiz further noted that Miranda had recently received an I-220A form, indicating he was released into the U.S. by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prior to his detention.
Just days after his release, Miranda was apprehended at his job in Orlando and transferred to the Everglades center.
Another detainee, Leamsy Izquierdo, a Cuban urban artist known as Leamsy La Figura, corroborated Miranda’s claims, stating that he has been without access to bathing facilities for four days.
‘There is no water here to bathe,’ Izquierdo said, adding that the food provided to detainees is often insufficient and of poor quality, reportedly containing worms.
He described the living conditions, mentioning that the lights in the detention center are kept on around the clock and that mosquitoes are a major nuisance, comparing their size to ‘elephants.’
Izquierdo also raised concerns about restricted outdoor access and freezing temperatures inside the tents where detainees are housed.
Currently, Izquierdo is facing legal issues related to an assault charge, which he has pleaded not guilty to, and reportedly, he is a permanent resident.
Complaints have come in from various detainees, with a Colombian national sharing that he has gone three days without access to essential medications.
In response to the allegations regarding the facility’s conditions, Stephanie Hartman, the deputy director of communications for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, asserted that the reports about the facility being inadequate are unfounded.
‘The facility meets all required standards and is in good working order,’ Hartman stated in an email to NBC South Florida.
When NBC South Florida attempted to reach out to ICE regarding the detained individuals, a spokesperson emphasized they could not comment on detainees not held in their facilities, as the Everglades detention center is state-run.
The Florida Immigration Coalition is urging Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to take action, including filing a lawsuit against the state to seek the closure of the detention center.
In a letter addressed to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, Mayor Levine Cava, a Democrat, criticized the state for ‘commandeering’ county land and requested several oversight measures including weekly site reports, remote monitoring access, and scheduled visits by oversight teams to ensure compliance, safety, and evaluate potential environmental impacts.
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