Democratic Lawmakers Decry Conditions At 'Alligator Alcatraz' After Tour: 'Wall-to-Wall Humans in Cages'

Democratic lawmakers sharply criticized the conditions at the Florida's migrant detention facility known as "Alligator Alcatraz" after a state-arranged tour during the weekend.

The facility, built in just over a week on a remote airstrip in the Everglades, is designed to hold up to 3,000 detainees as part of a broader push by state and federal officials to expand immigration enforcement.

"There are really disturbing, vile conditions and this place needs to be shut the hell down," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), who toured the site alongside other Democrats and Republicans. She is also quoted by CNN as saying "they are essentially packed into cages, wall-to-wall humans, 32 detainees per cage."

Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) told the outlet that the lawmakers were concerned about reports of unhygienic conditions due to toilets not working and "feces being spread everywhere," while Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL) raised alarms over flooding risks in the low-lying area, particularly during hurricane season. He described the site as "a cruel political stunt."

Republican officials who participated in the same tour offered a starkly different assessment. State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R-FL) said the facility was "well-run, safe, and clean," adding that "the rhetoric coming out of the Democrats does not match the reality." Ingoglia said a handful of detainees became "a little raucous" when the visitors appeared, but he was not able to tell what they were saying.

State Sen. Jay Collins (R-FL) described the sanitation infrastructure as "basic but appropriate" for a transitional facility and noted the presence of air conditioning, backup generators, and systems to accommodate dietary restrictions.

The Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly defended the practices at the complex, stating in a recent post on X that "ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens" and that "all detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with lawyers and their family members."

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava also criticized the facility last week, writing in an Miami Herald op-ed that current immigration policies "undermine the very values that define our nation." She called for remote monitoring and regular oversight, citing inadequate access to hospitals and legal counsel. "History will remember this moment," she wrote. "We must always be on the side of justice and dignity."