Historical Roots of Migrant Detention: Unpacking ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Through America’s Past
Historical Roots of Migrant Detention: Unpacking ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Through America’s Past While the term ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ — a grim nickname for a migrant detention facility in Florida — might seem like a recent phenomenon, its underlying principles are deeply embedded in American history. Rather than a deviation from the nation’s character, this ‘jury-rigged assemblage of cages under tents’ is argued to be a stark manifestation of long-standing societal patterns. This analysis delves into how contemporary issues, such as the punitive…