End Arbitrary and Inhumane Detention Practices by ICE and DHS

Brutal and Unsanitary Conditions at Alligator Alcatraz I urge you to take immediate action to shut down the Florida detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz” and similar camps that detain people—many of them U.S. citizens or individuals with no criminal record—in conditions that are inhumane, unconstitutional, and unlawful under both domestic and international standards. According to a July 14, 2025, Miami Herald report, over 700 individuals are held in cages housing 34 men each, with only three toilets per cage and no privacy. Temperatures near 85°F, poor air circulation, and rampant insect infestations make the facility dangerous. Water is only available via fountains attached to toilets, and detainees are denied basic hygiene, including regular access to showers. Due Process and Legal Representation Denied Detainees and lawyers report that access to legal counsel is being obstructed. Many individuals have not been charged with any crime, and some are U.S. citizens detained without cause. The lack of judicial review, delays in hearings, and use of social media by lawyers to locate clients indicate serious due process violations. Violation of Federal Detention Standards The facility does not meet ICE’s Performance-Based National Detention Standards, which require safe housing, hygiene, privacy, and legal access. These failures reflect systemic disregard for U.S. immigration law and basic custodial obligations. Breach of International Human Rights Law Conditions at Alligator Alcatraz violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention Against Torture, both ratified by the U.S. Detainees are subjected to arbitrary detention and degrading treatment—practices prohibited under these binding treaties. Congress Must Act to End Abuse There is no legal or moral justification for continuing to operate these facilities. I call on you to demand public hearings, initiate investigations, and sponsor legislation that shuts down detention centers that violate our laws and values. Please act now to restore dignity, justice, and constitutional order.