The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that all detainees from the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades have been transferred to other facilities. This decision was made citing concerns related to the upcoming hurricane season.

Background on the Facility

The South Florida Detention Center, also known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ has been a subject of controversy since its opening 11 months ago. Conditions at the facility have been harshly criticized by lawyers, families, and human rights groups, who have denounced the mistreatment of detainees. Despite these criticisms, President Donald Trump has praised the conditions at the facility.

DHS spokesperson Lauren Bis stated in an emailed statement, ‘For the safety of the illegal immigrant detainees, we transferred them to other facilities.’ However, the department did not specify how many detainees were transferred or where they were taken.

Concerns and Criticisms

Detainees at the facility have reported difficulty accessing lawyers and have described poor physical conditions, including worms in the food, toilets that don’t flush, and flooding floors with fecal waste. The facility, surrounded by alligator-filled swamps, was built by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration in a matter of days.

Immigration advocates have welcomed the transfer of detainees but have called for the permanent closure of the facility. Amy Godshall, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, stated, ‘Transferring people out of this cruel facility is an important step, but it does not erase the harm that has already been done.’

Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.