1 hour ago
Detainees from Florida’s notorious “Alligator Alcatraz” migration jailhouse person been relocated to different facilities, according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The detention installation successful nan distant Everglades, celebrated by Donald Trump for its harsh conditions, has been widely expected to close. It quickly attracted headlines for nan brutal treatment of detainees aft opening past year.
ICE announced connected Tuesday that each detainees astatine nan state-run tract had been moved, but did not specify really many, aliases wherever they were taken.
The agency, NBC Miami reported, said: “As we participate into hurricane season, ICE and nan authorities of Florida person moved forbidden aliens from nan soft sided facility. For nan information of nan forbidden alien detainees, we transferred them to different facilities.”
ICE did not instantly respond erstwhile contacted for remark by nan Guardian.
The transfers travel amid allegations of quality authorities abuses at nan detention center. In a study published successful December 2025, Amnesty International alleged that detainees were shackled wrong a 2ft-high metallic cage and near outdoors without h2o for extended periods.
According to nan report, nan cage was utilized arsenic a shape of arbitrary punishment. One detainee told Amnesty International: “One time, 2 group successful my compartment were calling retired to nan guards telling them that I needed my medication. Ten guards rushed into nan compartment and threw them to nan ground. They were taken to nan ‘box’ and punished conscionable for trying to thief me. I saw a feline who was put successful it for an full day.”
The jail, which opened successful July 2025, costs Florida taxpayers an estimated $1.2m a time to operate, according to an investigation by nan Florida Tributary.
In May, nan New York Times reported that Florida plans to unopen down nan facility. Citing a national charismatic and 3 group acquainted pinch nan matter, nan outlet said authorities officials told vendors that detainees would beryllium transferred retired astatine nan opening of June.
Speaking astatine a property convention past month, Florida politician Ron DeSantis said nan authorities “didn’t build immoderate imperishable accommodation down there, because we knew it was going to beryllium temporary”, but did not supply a timeline for nan closure.
Meanwhile, a Guardian report published earlier this period recovered that much than half a twelve detainees alleged they were fixed “rotten” h2o containing mosquito larvae. According to nan detainees, situation guards utilized nan allegedly spoiled h2o to unit them into signing documents written successful English that they could not understand.
Stephanie Hartman, a spokesperson for nan Florida section of emergency management, which oversees nan facility’s operations, said successful a statement: “Medical accommodation and staff, including a pharmacy, are disposable 24/7 to detainees.”
