Immigrants Held in Cages at 'Alligator Alcatraz'

Immigrants held at a now-shuttered detention centre in Florida were kept for hours in small outdoor metal cages, according to a report by the US Department of Homeland Security’s internal watchdog.

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) said the cages measured about 18 sq ft (1.67 sq m) and that their use was “unprecedented among detention facilities”. Inspectors also concluded the site fell short of federal standards covering hygiene, medical care, food, and health and safety.

Outdoor “Calming Areas” Used for Hours

The OIG reported that, between July 2025 and January 2026, the facility held 79 immigrants in the outdoor enclosures. It said staff described the spaces as “calming areas” where detainees could “deescalate and have time alone”.

According to the watchdog, detainees were kept in the cages for periods ranging from minutes to nearly two hours. The report said they were used at least once as a disciplinary measure.

“The use of such restrictive spaces is highly unconventional and does not align with standards for humane treatment,” the report stated.

Hygiene, Showers, Living Space and Water Issues

The OIG also found the facility did not meet expectations on hygiene and basic living conditions.

Inspectors said detainees were required to use showers infested with small bugs and were allowed to bathe only three times a week. The report further said the facility provided insufficient living space, leaving detainees in cramped conditions because they spent most of their time in their housing units.

The report also said detainees told OIG staff they did not have access to clean drinking water and that they could not clean the plastic cups they used.

Medical Care and Operating Responsibility Dispute

The findings came after a surprise inspection by the OIG in January at the detention facility, which had become one of the most notorious immigration detention centres in the United States.

The watchdog is an independent internal oversight body within DHS. Its current inspector general was appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term.

DHS said in its response included with the OIG report that Florida officials, rather than the federal government, ran the facility day to day. DHS told the watchdog that state authorities controlled operations.

The detention centre was established by the state of Florida through an executive order signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, while the federal government paid the operational costs.

Everglades Build and Closure Plan

In 2025, the facility was built over eight days in the Everglades, a protected wetland where alligators are found. DeSantis later said in June 2026 that the centre would close because it was intended to be temporary.

Trump had previously made jokes about the danger posed by alligators at the site, remarks that civil rights groups criticised as inhumane.

The BBC said it had contacted DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and DeSantis for comment. Earlier, detainees had told the BBC that they were denied necessary medication and regular showers and other hygiene measures.

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15 September 2026