A federal report released by 2026-09-15 found that detainees at the notorious 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention camp were held in small metal cages labeled 'calming areas,' the size of phone booths. Conditions were deemed well below acceptable standards.
DHS inspectors found violations of basic hygiene, medical care, food, and safety standards at an immigration detention facility known as 'Alligator Alcatraz' in Florida on September 14, 2026, discovering immigrants held in small outdoor cages.
On September 14–17, 2026, a Department of Homeland Security inspector general report detailed serious conditions violations at the now-closed South Florida Detention Facility (known as "Alligator Alcatraz"), finding that detainees were confined in small metal enclosures euphemistically labeled "calming areas." The facility failed to meet federal standards for housing, recreation, and medical care.
A Department of Homeland Security investigation released on 2026-09-14 documented abusive conditions at a now-closed Florida immigration detention facility, including the use of small cages labeled 'calming areas' for detainees.
On 2026-09-14, the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general reported that immigrants detained at Florida's now-shuttered 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration facility were confined in outdoor cages only slightly larger than telephone booths for extended periods. The practice contradicted humane treatment standards.