DHS report reveals abusive confinement practices at Florida detention center

An internal investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has uncovered the use of extremely small confinement cells at a now-shuttered detention center in Florida. The facility, colloquially known as "Alcatraz with Alligators," operated from July 2025 to June 2026. According to a 30-page report released on September 11, 2026, following a surprise inspection on January 21, 2026, authorities found that 79 migrants were held in metal cells measuring approximately 1.67 square meters—roughly the size of a telephone booth—between July 2025 and January 2026.

The confinement periods in these cramped, metal units ranged from a few minutes to nearly two hours. The DHS Office of the Inspector General described this practice as unprecedented within the agency's monitored facilities, noting that holding individuals in such restricted spaces poses significant risks. The report highlights severe oversight failures during the center's operational period. While the facility has since been closed, the investigation provides a critical look at the conditions endured by migrants during the facility's year of operation.