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DHS watchdog report on Alligator Alcatraz
The gist
A DHS watchdog found 79 detainees held in 4-by-4-foot outdoor metal cages at 'Alligator Alcatraz'.
The now-closed Florida site's conditions face federal scrutiny over health, medical and hygiene standards.
How it unfolded
- Jul 17, 2025 to Jan 18, 202679 detainees were confined in small outdoor metal enclosures measuring roughly 4 feet by 4 feet, offering only 18 square feet of floor space.
- Jan 2026DHS OIG conducted an unannounced inspection of the Everglades site, documenting extensive noncompliance with standards governing environmental health and safety, medical care, food service, personal hygiene, recreation, and special management units.
- Sep 11, 2026DHS OIG published federal oversight report OIG-26-22.