Judge Refuses to “Be the Warden” of Alligator Alcatraz, Which Is Good Because Nobody Else Seems to Be Either
MIAMI — A federal judge declined to assume responsibility for Florida’s notorious “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center Monday, citing the court’s limited role—and the fact that no one else seems to know who’s in charge either.
The Everglades facility, rushed open earlier this month, has already become infamous for its conditions: worms in the food, overflowing toilets, and detainees kept in chain-link cages with no showers or medical care. But attorneys say another horror is the legal black hole—no court claims jurisdiction, bond hearings vanish into thin air, and lawyers are left screaming into a mosquito-filled void.
“This is an emergency situation,” ACLU attorney Eunice Cho said. “Our clients are being pressured to sign deportation orders without ever speaking to a lawyer—assuming we can even figure out where to send the paperwork.”
Florida officials have hailed the chaos as proof of concept. “The system’s working,” Gov. Ron DeSantis insisted, noting the facility’s remoteness ensures fewer complaints from “pesky liberal activists.”
The judge scheduled a hearing for August 18 to “sort out the mess,” provided someone can confirm which courthouse hasn’t already dumped the responsibility off to another county.