Democratic members of the Florida House Congressional Delegation recently demanded answers from State and Federal officials in charge of the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigrant detention center in response to a recent federal report indicating inhumane conditions.
The lawmakers’ request comes after the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Inspector General (IG) revealed that detainees were subject to confinement in outdoor cages.
“This is a clear violation of the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment in our Constitution, and human rights experts describe this practice as a form of torture,” the coalition, led by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, wrote.
The delegation requested DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Executive Director Jared W. Perdue, and Governor Ron DeSantis to provide transparency regarding the revelation.
Lawmakers Say Staff Denied Viewing And Lied About Their Purpose
In the letter, the delegation argued that DHS and FDEM employees and contractors denied them access to view the cages and deceived them about the cages’ purposes during their visit.
According to the DHS IG report, staff told inspectors that the cages were “calming areas” for “detainees to de-escalate and have time alone.”
“It is now clear that this was intended to mislead public officials at public expense,” the coalition wrote. “The Inspector General report not only confirms many allegations of sadistic cruelty that we saw or were reported by detainees, but sheds light on why the Trump Administration and Florida’s state government worked overtime to block transparency and accountability.”
"This is not how America should treat human beings in our custody, regardless of their immigration status. We can enforce our laws without abandoning basic human dignity,” they affirmed. “And in a nation of laws, there must be consequences when elected officials and their appointees rob taxpayer funds to inflict environmental damage, violate Constitutional protections, and commit acts of torture in our backyard.”
