DHS Watchdog Confirms Use of Small Outdoor Cages at Florida Detention Facility
· World · NBC News, New York Times, BBC News
A Department of Homeland Security inspector general report has confirmed that immigrants were held in outdoor metal cages at the South Florida Detention Facility, a site previously dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz' by the state's attorney general. These enclosures measured approximately 16 square feet, significantly smaller than the 37-square-foot minimum required by ICE guidelines for individual detention rooms. Facility staff described the cages as 'calming areas' for detainees to de-escalate, though the watchdog report concluded their use is highly unconventional and inconsistent with humane treatment standards. The facility, which opened in July 2025, was built by the administration of Governor Ron DeSantis as part of a state and federal 287(g) partnership. While the report stops short of calling the practice torture, it follows previous allegations from Amnesty International that the cages were used punitively.
Why it matters
The findings confirm the use of restrictive detention conditions in a state-run facility, raising significant concerns regarding the treatment of immigrants and the oversight of federal-state immigration enforcement agreements.
Read the original report — NBC News
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