The Department of Homeland Security's internal watchdog is sharply criticizing conditions at the Florida immigration detention center dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," finding that detainees at the now-closed facility were held in "cramped conditions" — in dozens of cases, people were held for up to two hours in 18-square-foot enclosures.
asserted
people → criticize → enclosures
The DHS Office of Inspector General issued its 33-page report Monday after conducting an unannounced inspection of the state-run facility earlier this year.
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Office → issue → facility
Alligator Alcatraz — which was — had initially been cast by Trump administration officials as a for how DHS could ramp up detention space as it aims to boost deportations.
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it → cast → deportations
But it drew intense criticism from advocacy groups who alleged poor conditions, which DHS has strongly denied.
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DHS → draw → which
Most of the detainees at Alligator Alcatraz were held in soft-sided tents on an airstrip in the middle of the Everglades, which were further divided into dormitory-style units surrounded by metal fencing and filled with bunk beds.
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which → hold → beds
The enclosures didn't have common areas.
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enclosures → have → areas
The OIG report found these housing units "did not provide detainees with sufficient living space."
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units → find → space
When at capacity, they provided 28 square feet per detainee — less than half of the 75 square feet required under Florida state jail standards, according to OIG.
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they → provide → OIG
The report said this arrangement "may harm detainees' physical and mental health."
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arrangement → say → health
It also found that detainees were given one hour of recreation time three days per week, and were able to shower on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
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detainees → find → Mondays
The report noted that ICE's standards call for detainees to have at least six hours of recreation time per week, or at least one hour a day for five days a week, and Florida's standards require daily access to showers.
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standards → note → showers
OIG staff also reported seeing cage-like "small metal enclosures," which were 52 inches long and 52 inches wide.
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which → report → enclosures
Some 79 detainees were held in these enclosures, which staff called "calming areas," between July 2025 and January 2026.
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staff → hold → July
The watchdog described these enclosures as "highly unconventional" and said they do not "align with standards for humane treatment."
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they → describe → treatment
It recommended removing them.
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It → recommend → them
(All of the inspector general's recommendations were closed out because the facility ceased operations.)
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facility → close → operations
Staff told inspectors that detainees "asked to spend time in the small metal enclosures" in order to have time alone, and the doors were left unlocked.
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doors → tell → time
An ICE notice on the outside of the enclosure said detainees "may leave at any time."
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detainees → say → time
But OIG said in at least one case, the enclosure "may have been used as a disciplinary tool," with a detainee placed inside for 26 minutes for failing to comply with commands.
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detainee → say → commands
Detainees were kept in the enclosures for no more than two hours.
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Detainees → keep → hours
On average, they stayed inside for just under an hour, OIG said.
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OIG → stay → hour
"Use of these small metal enclosures for any reason is unprecedented among ICE facilities inspected by OIG," the report read.
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report → inspect → OIG
"Confining individuals in small metal enclosures for any reason presents significant risks to detainee health and well-being.
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Confining → confine → health
OIG said staff at the facility "could not clearly identify which detention standards they used for holding detainees on immigration-related charges," which the report warned "increases the risk that detainees may not receive appropriate care."
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detainees → say → care
In assessing Alligator Alcatraz, OIG said it looked at both Florida state jail standards and ICE's national standards, and applied whichever was more restrictive.
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whichever → assess → standards
The OIG report adds to more than a year of criticism of Alligator Alcatraz from Democratic lawmakers,
and advocacy groups.
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report → add → lawmakers
There was also opposition to the site from environmental organizations concerned about the impact on the ecosystem and a that argued the facility endangered protected lands.
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facility → be → lands
The facility's detainees were legally in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and were accused of being in the U.S. illegally or otherwise violating federal immigration laws.
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detainees → accuse → laws
State and federal officials have long defended the site, which President Trump
in the summer of 2025 along with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
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officials → defend → DeSantis
"Alligator Alcatraz was consistent with the same federal detention standards employed by previous administrations, including Biden and Obama," a DHS spokesperson told CBS News in a statement Monday.
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spokesperson → employ → statement
CBS News has reached out to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, which operated the facility, for comment.
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which → reach → comment
The Aporia
