DHS Watchdog Finds 79 Detainees Locked in Phone-Booth-Size Cages at 'Alligator Alcatraz'

A U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report found that Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" detention facility regularly locked detainees in small outdoor metal cages, each about 18 square feet, for periods ranging from several minutes to nearly two hours. Based on an unannounced January 2026 inspection, the report found Immigration and Customs Enforcement confined 79 detainees in the enclosures over a six-month period.

The report said the practice "does not align with standards for humane treatment" and is "unprecedented" among facilities the OIG has inspected. The 18 square feet of cage space fell short of the 37-square-foot minimum in ICE's own detention standards, and each detainee's overall housing space of 28 square feet was well below the 75-square-foot national standard. The OIG also cited noncompliance on medical care, food service, hygiene and safety.

The OIG made 10 recommendations to improve oversight; DHS's response did not address them, with the department arguing Florida maintained authority over day-to-day operations. The facility closed in June 2026.