A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) watchdog report has confirmed that detainees at Florida’s controversial immigration detention facility, known as 'Alligator Alcatraz,' were frequently held in outdoor metal cages no larger than 16 square feet—roughly the size of a phone booth.
The inspector general’s report, released by the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), found that the cages were used in direct violation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) standards, which require a minimum of 37 square feet for single-person detention spaces. The report also noted that facility staff described the enclosures as 'calming areas' for detainees to 'de-escalate and have time alone,' though the watchdog did not endorse this characterization.
The facility, operated under a 287(g) agreement between Florida and ICE, was shuttered in June 2025 after one year of operation. Officials cited hurricane season risks as the reason for its closure, though critics argued the $1.2 million daily cost to taxpayers was unsustainable. The DHS OIG conducted inspections in January 2025, during which it documented the use of the cages despite ICE guidelines prohibiting such practices.
Federal oversight disputes state control
In response to the report, DHS and ICE officials stated that the federal government did not have authority over the facility’s day-to-day operations. A joint response from the DHS Undersecretary of Management and the acting ICE director argued that the 287(g) agreement did not grant ICE contractual oversight of the facility. The state of Florida, which funded and administered the jail, has not publicly addressed the report’s findings.
Critics decry 'inhumane conditions'
Human rights organizations and immigration advocates condemned the use of the cages, pointing to prior allegations of abuse and neglect at the facility. In December 2024, Amnesty International released a dossier documenting claims of detainees being shackled outdoors for hours, exposed to extreme heat, and subjected to mosquito swarms. A spokesperson for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis dismissed these allegations at the time as 'fabrications' and 'politically motivated.'
The DHS OIG’s findings mark a rare instance of a federal watchdog criticizing practices associated with the Trump administration, though the report does not attribute responsibility to any specific administration official.
Background: The rise and fall of 'Alligator Alcatraz'
The facility, located in the Florida Everglades, was established in July 2024 as part of a state-federal partnership to detain immigrants pending deportation. Over its year of operation, Florida officials reported detaining and deporting more than 21,000 immigrants. The jail’s remote location and restrictive conditions earned it the nickname 'Alligator Alcatraz,' drawing comparisons to the notorious prison island.
The closure in June 2025 followed growing scrutiny over its conditions and cost, though no single factor has been officially cited as the sole reason for its shutdown. The DHS OIG’s report is the first official confirmation of the cage usage, which had previously been reported by media outlets but not verified by a government source.