Human Rights Violations in Florida’s Immigration Detention Centers

Amnesty International has recently unveiled a damning report highlighting the severe human rights violations occurring at two immigration detention facilities in Florida: the Everglades Detention Facility, grimly referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz,” and the Krome North Service Processing Center, commonly known as Krome. The report, titled “Torture and enforced disappearances in the Sunshine State: Human rights violations at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ and Krome in Florida,” reveals a pattern of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment that, in extreme cases, amounts to torture.

The Context: A Hostile Anti-Immigrant Climate

This alarming report emerges against a backdrop of heightened anti-immigrant sentiment in Florida, particularly under the administration of Governor Ron DeSantis. Policies have become increasingly punitive, aimed at criminalizing and detaining migrants while perpetuating a hostile atmosphere that projects fear and uncertainty. Findings detailed in the September 2025 research mission point to a systematic approach of punishment and dehumanization toward those seeking safety in the United States.

Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Americas, expressed grave concerns over the implications for human rights across the region, stating, “Immigration enforcement cannot operate outside the rule of law or exempt itself from human rights standards.”

“Alligator Alcatraz”: Conditions of Inhumanity

The report paints a disturbing picture of the Everglades Detention Facility, colloquially dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” Research indicates that individuals detained there endure unsanitary and inhumane conditions. Overflowing toilets, exposure to insects, constant artificial lighting, inadequate access to food and water, and a lack of basic privacy are all documented. Interviews with detainees reveal a bleak existence where medical care is often inconsistent or completely denied, putting people at severe risk of physical and mental harm.

One of the most harrowing findings is the existence of the “box,” a 2×2 foot cage-like structure where detainees are punished. For hours at a time, individuals are confined in this cruel device, often without sufficient water, tethered down, and exposed to harsh elements.

The facility operates without federal oversight, lacking crucial registration and tracking mechanisms. This absence has led to enforced disappearances, where families are kept in the dark about the whereabouts of their loved ones, and detainees cannot speak to legal counsel. Amy Fischer, Director of Refugee and Migrant Rights with Amnesty International USA, condemned the facility’s conditions, stating, “This is unreal – where’s the oversight?”

Krome: A Chaotic and Dangerous Environment

At Krome, managed by a private for-profit entity, similar patterns of abuse and mistreatment are evident. Despite on-site medical facilities, reports of negligence abound, including the denial of necessary medical treatments and assessments. Overcrowding, prolonged solitary confinement, and physical violence at the hands of guards have also been reported, resembling the oppressive atmosphere documented at Alligator Alcatraz.

Tragic incidents, such as a guard slamming a metal door onto a detainee’s injured hand, exemplify the harsh realities faced on a daily basis. Detainees frequently find themselves grappling with not only physical but also emotional trauma, compounded by the uncertainty surrounding their legal status and detention duration.

Fischer further assessed the dire situation at Krome, remarking, “Krome’s extreme overcrowding, medical neglect, and reports of humiliating and degrading treatment paint a picture of harrowing human right violations.”

A Broader System of Oppression

Since February 2025, Florida has enacted sweeping and controversial immigration laws that jeopardize the well-being of immigrant communities. The expansion of 287(g) agreements allows local law enforcement to collaborate with immigration officials, leading to wrongful arrests and racial profiling. Individuals are deterred from accessing essential services like education and healthcare, breeding a culture of fear.

Florida’s aggressive stance on immigration has seen the detention population surge by over 50% since January 2025. An alarming 34 no-bid contracts amounting to over $360 million were awarded for the operation of Alligator Alcatraz, highlighting a troubling prioritization of punitive measures over public welfare.

Fischer put it starkly: “The choice to prioritize punishment, dehumanization, and cruelty over public welfare is as shortsighted as it is appalling.” These escalating abuses underscore a longstanding issue within U.S. immigration detention, which has seen a concerning uptick in fatalities and violations.

Recommendations for Change

In response to these critical issues, Amnesty International is calling on both state and federal governments to take immediate action to address systemic human rights violations. The organization recommends the closure of Alligator Alcatraz and the cessation of state-run immigration detention entirely. All emergency powers that facilitate such operations should be ended, and instead, funding should be redirected toward essential public services.

Further recommendations include banning restrictive practices such as shackling and solitary confinement, ensuring legal access for detainees, and establishing independent oversight for all facilities. On a federal level, the urgent need to dismantle mass immigration detention practices and enforce humane policies is clearer than ever.

Fischer concluded with a resonant plea for compassion and dignity: “We must stop detaining our immigrant community members and people seeking safety and instead work toward humane, rights-respecting migration policies.”

Through collective awareness and action, the hope remains that these grave injustices can be addressed and rectified, paving the way for a more humane immigration system in Florida and beyond.