New Facts: U.S. Rep. Reports Inhumane Conditions at Alligator

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz made an unannounced three-hour tour of Alligator Alcatraz on April 9. Inside a massive tent holding about 1,000 detainees, men were confined 32 to a cage of roughly 300 square feet with three small toilets in view of the others. The air was intensely humid with a strong urine odor, and feces and urine were visible around dirty sink-toilet fixtures.

Meals arrived boxed and prepackaged. Sandwiches labeled fresh were dated March 28 yet still awaiting service on April 9, and lunch consisted of a small turkey-and-cheese sandwich, a bag of chips, and a granola bar.

She was barred from speaking with detainees even with signed privacy releases. No attorney phone numbers were posted in housing areas and there was no access to paper or pens, despite a March 27 court order requiring confidential, unmonitored legal calls and publication of attorney access policies.

ICE maintains a permanent daily presence at the site and makes decisions on detainee movement, referrals, processing, and access to counsel. A court status conference on April 13 will review compliance with the injunction, including keeping at least one working phone per 25 detainees and posting the detainee handbook online.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources