Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Migrant Site Faces Intensified Scrutiny as Archbishop Condemns Conditions and Lawmakers Sue for Access
Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Migrant Site Faces Intensified Scrutiny as Archbishop Condemns Conditions and Lawmakers Sue for Access
A controversial migrant detention facility in Florida, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by state officials, is drawing sharp criticism from the Archdiocese of Miami and sparking a legal battle from Democratic state lawmakers. Archbishop Thomas Wenski has issued a strong condemnation, labeling the site “unbecoming of public officials” and “corrosive of the common good.”
In a statement posted on the archdiocese’s website, Archbishop Wenski specifically criticized the rhetoric surrounding the facility, noting, “It is unbecoming of public officials and corrosive of the common good to speak of the deterrence value of ‘alligators and pythons’ at the Collier-Dade facility.” He also raised significant humanitarian concerns, citing the facility’s remote location, lack of immediate medical access, and the vulnerability of its temporary tent structures to Florida’s severe summer weather and hurricane threats. Wenski further called for chaplains and ministers to be granted access to those in custody.
Adding to the pressure, a group of Democratic state lawmakers has filed a lawsuit against the state after being denied entry to the site last week. State Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Democrat, emphasized their demand for transparency, stating, “We weren’t looking for a sanitized field trip. If [the allegations are] false, prove it. Show it.” While lawmakers were later offered a scheduled, guided tour, some argue it’s insufficient for genuine oversight.
The facility faces ongoing allegations from detainees and their families, reported by NBC6, of “inhumane conditions,” including limited shower access, spoiled food, extreme heat, and severe mosquito infestations. The state has categorically denied these claims. Meanwhile, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has also requested access to the site, which is located on county land, and is awaiting a response. This escalating legal and public outcry is intensifying the debate over immigration enforcement practices and the use of isolated detention sites in Florida.
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