OCHOPEE, Fla. (WSVN) — Immigration rights groups and family members of the detainees at the controversial immigrant detention center “Alligator Alcatraz” are speaking out and demanding sweeping action, including calling for its immediate closure, emergency health screenings and the relocation of all detainees amid growing concerns about the alleged deplorable conditions they’re being housed in.
The detention center in the Everglades has been open for nearly three weeks now, and once again, people were gathered at the base of the entrance to protest its existence and the conditions they believe the detainees are enduring.
“It’s just inhumane,” said Scott Evans, a protester.
Among those gathered outside the facility were public health workers and several activist groups, including the Florida Immigrant Coalition, all of whom were calling for transparency about the alleged degrading and inhumane conditions inside the detention center.
“And I’m not going to give up, we’re not going to give up,” said Evans.
Activists are even labeling the facility as a concentration camp.
One woman spoke with her husband on the inside, over speaker phone, who said he’s dealing with unsanitary conditions and security guards who are instigating amongst the detainees.
The Executive Director of Florida Immigration Coalition called the facility a violation of human rights.
“The detention conditions are unlivable. When you expose human beings to human waste in heat, in a hot environment, you propagate germs and therefore illnesses,” said Tessa Petit.
“We have individuals, 37 to a cage, who are sharing one or two toilets, who are drinking out of toilet water, it’s wrong,” said Armen Henderson, the executive director for Dade County Street Response. “We’re going to see an exacerbation of people’s already chronic medical conditions.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis defended the facility at a press conference Tuesday morning.
“And they’re saying, ‘Oh, they’re not fed well.’ Well, first of all, they’re fed the same that the staff is fed,” said DeSantis.
He maintained the center is crucial for the state’s obligation to remove criminals off the streets.
“You need a place that you can process and deport efficiently. If you want to be able to remove illegal aliens from the country, particularly the criminal aliens who shouldn’t be anywhere in our communities, that needs to have some infrastructure,” DeSantis said.
The governor also said none of the detainees are forced to remain at the facility. They can choose to remain there or board a flight that would take them back to their home country with all expenses paid by the state.
Detainees have told 7News that they planned to go on a hunger strike on Tuesday as they believe they are experiencing delays in their processing. 7News is awaiting confirmation from those inside to clarify whether or not the strike is underway.
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