Detainees at 'Alligator Alcatraz' Are Being Denied Access to Legal Counsel, Attorneys Say

In addition to what immigration advocates have described as unlivable conditions, individuals held at the newly opened detention center nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz" are reportedly facing serious violations of their civil liberties and due process rights, their attorneys are saying.

Attorneys seeking a temporary restraining order against the Florida-based facility say many of those in custody have been denied access to legal counsel, are being held without formal charges, and cannot attend bond hearings after federal immigration court cancels proceedings.

Lawyers said Monday during a hearing that constitutional protections are being ignored, The Associated Press reported. They also reported that at least 100 people detained at the facility have already been deported.

Legal representatives involved in the case said that when attempting to file for bond hearings, they were told the immigration court lacks jurisdiction. They are now urging state and federal officials to identify a court with authority so petitions for bond can begin.

"This is an unprecedented situation where hundreds of detainees are held incommunicado, with no ability to access the courts, under legal authority that has never been explained and may not exist," the immigration attorneys wrote. "This is an unprecedented and disturbing situation."

Since the facility opened July 1, it has faced widespread criticism over its treatment of those in custody. Earlier this month, The Latin Times reported that both legal advocates and individuals currently held inside described unsanitary and degrading conditions.

Responding to the latest claims, Nicholas Meros, an attorney representing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, said during the hearing the situation at "Alligator Alcatraz" has improved since civil rights groups filed a lawsuit on July 16.

"There have been a number of facts that have changed," Meros said during Monday's virtual hearing. He noted that video conference rooms have been installed to allow communication with legal representatives, and that in-person attorney visits are now permitted.

In the lawsuit, organizations representing migrants in custody argued that people were being denied due process and that legal teams were prevented from visiting or calling clients.

"These restrictions violate the rights of the people detained and those of the organizations providing legal services and lawyers whose clients are held in the center," the complaint filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans for Immigrant Justice reads.

The lawsuit also highlighted poor living conditions, citing "scorching temperatures, a heavy presence of mosquitoes, flooding inside the tents, and lack of access to water."

U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz did not issue an immediate ruling. Instead, he directed civil rights attorneys to refile their complaint as a consolidated request for a preliminary injunction and set a briefing schedule that will conclude with an in-person hearing on Aug. 18.