Alligator Alcatraz: DHS Inspector General Report Uncovers Unprecedented Use of Metal Cages

An unannounced DHS OIG inspection in January 2026 documented violations at the Florida “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center. Inspectors observed eight windowless soft-sided pods offering only 28 sq ft per detainee—well below ICE’s 75 sq ft minimum. The report identified 79 instances where detainees were placed in metal enclosures (~4 ft 3 in × 4 ft 3 in, ~18 sq ft), less than half the required 37 sq ft. Detainees spent just under one hour on average, with some stays approaching two hours. Inspectors also recorded inadequate sanitation, an over-temperature freezer, bug-infested showers, limited recreation (three times per week), and dirty drinking water.

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The Florida Soft-Sided Facility (FSSF) opened in July 2025 on the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Everglades. Promoted by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Trump administration as a rapid-response solution, the center operated for about a year and claimed to house more than 21,000 migrants. Critics noted a daily operating cost exceeding $1 million and potential environmental harm to wetlands. The camp closed in June 2026, with officials citing the approaching hurricane season.

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• Living space: 28 sq ft per detainee (required >= 75 sq ft).

New York Times

• Metal enclosure size: ~18 sq ft (required >= 37 sq ft).

CNN

• Cage usage: 79 detainees confined between July 17 2025 and January 18 2026.

The Guardian

• Average confinement time: just under one hour; maximum near two hours.

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• Operational cost: > $1 million per day.

New York Times

• Sanitation issues: freezer above safety limits; bug-infested showers; six of eight interviewed detainees reported dirty water.

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The spokesperson labeled allegations of inhumane conditions “FALSE” and directed further inquiries to Florida officials. Governor DeSantis said, “We stepped up because there was a gap, but my hope is that they’ll be able to handle that.” The Florida Division of Emergency Management and the governor’s office did not provide additional comment to the OIG report.

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Amnesty International’s director for refugee and migrant rights called the metal boxes “horrific,” emphasizing that the conditions amounted to cruelty. Democratic senators Jon Ossoff and Dick Durbin raised health-risk concerns. Immigrant-rights groups and environmental advocates also condemned the facility’s operation and its impact on wetlands.

The Guardian

• “We stepped up because there was a gap, but my hope is that they’ll be able to handle that,” — Gov. Ron DeSantis

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• “We’d make it even smaller if we could.” — Amy Fischer, Amnesty International USA

The Guardian

The report notes uncertainty about which detention standards the state applied, highlighting a lack of clear oversight.

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After the June 2026 shutdown, the OIG’s recommendations—including ending metal enclosures and improving water and sanitation—were formally closed because the facility ceased operations. No new federal or state oversight mechanisms have been announced, leaving long-term accountability unresolved.

CNN