‘Alligator Alcatraz’ put detainees in metal cages labeled ‘calming areas,’ watchdog finds
- Posted on September 14, 2026
- By CNN
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
A federal oversight body has documented serious concerns at a Florida immigration detention facility nicknamed 'Alligator Alcatraz,' revealing that nearly 80 detainees experienced confinement in restrictive metal enclosures. These structures, euphemistically referred to as 'calming areas,' held individuals for periods extending from minutes to approximately two hours. The investigation raises significant questions about detention standards, facility conditions, and the treatment of immigrant populations in temporary holding centers across the United States.
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‘Alligator Alcatraz’ put detainees in metal cages labeled ‘calming areas,’ watchdog finds
Nearly 80 immigrant detainees who were held at Florida’s makeshift detention center, known as Alligator Alcatraz, were briefly held in small metal enclosures for “periods ranging from several minutes to nearly 2 hours,” according to a federal watchdog report
