Strictโ Regulations andโ Contradictory โขReports Surround Florida‘s โค’Aligator Alcatraz’ Detention Center
MIAMI, โฃFL – A privately-runโ detention center in Florida, dubbed “Aligator Alcatraz” by human rights advocates, is facing scrutiny over itsโ stringent rulesโค and allegations of unsanitary conditions despite assurances of humane โขtreatment. The facility,used to house migrants facing deportation,operates under โคa โขdetailed manualโฃ outliningโ expectationsโ for detainees,ranging from personal hygiene to legalโค access.
The detention center’s regulations โคemphasize order and self-reliance. Detainees are โคexpected toโฃ bathe regularly and maintainโ cleanliness, with the manual โฃstating, “Personal hygiene โขis essential.”โ A barbershop โคservice is available, andโฃ access โto a legal library is permitted forโค up to five hours per week. However, โrecentโฃ reports โcontradict the โขportrayal of โa well-maintained habitat.
Inโ july, detainees โreported instances of malfunctioning toilets causing floorsโฃ to flood โwithโ fecal waste, and periods ofโ days without access to showers. These claims stand in โฃcontrast to the facility’s stated commitment to hygiene.
Officials from Nakamoto Group, the โคprivate contractorโข overseeing detainee access โขto legal โฃcounsel, have refutedโค allegations of restricted access. Mark Saunders testified thatโ four rooms are dedicated to private โmeetings withโค lawyers, and that guards do not review detainees’ legalโ documents. He affirmed that all requests for legal consultations, โคwhether inโ person or โvia videoconference, have beenโข granted.
The โขfacility’s manual also details a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual assault and abuse, with a โfull-time investigator โtrained in sexual aggression research on staff. While emphasizingโฃ that โa sexual assault is never the victim’s fault, theโข manual alsoโ includes advice on avoiding potential attacks, such as avoiding accepting gifts or favors and projecting self-assurance. โคIt โคstates, “Manny attackers choose victims who seem that they will not defend themselves or that they believe are emotionally weak.”