1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

The conditions at "Alligator Alcatraz" are appalling – and Congress must act. Built in just days on sacred Indigenous land, the site has already flooded, sits exposed to hurricanes, and is swarmed with mosquitoes. Reports from those detained sound like a dystopian horror story. This isn't just unacceptable – it's a humanitarian crisis. The government must investigate immediately, demand on-site access for lawmakers and legal counsel, and prevent any federal funding from supporting this abuse. Maggots in food. No access to showers or water. Lack of access to legal counsel. Flooding, swarms of mosquitoes, and life-threatening hurricane exposure. These aren't isolated incidents – they're a horrifying indictment of a system that treats human beings as disposable. Our government is failing its most basic obligation to uphold human dignity and protect those in its custody. Across the country, immigration detention centers are increasingly defined by abuse, neglect, and disregard for human life. ICE operates with little oversight or accountability. Meanwhile, taxpayer dollars are funding these abusive conditions. Even as Congress pours billions more of our dollars into ICE, Homeland Security Secretary Noem proudly bragged about taking funds from FEMA for this horrific detention site. This system is fundamentally inhumane, fiscally reckless, and life-threatening. Congress must demand access and prevent federal funds from being used for this detention center until it is shut down.