DHS watchdog finds ICE used phone booth-sized cages to hold 79 detainees at Florida camp
A September 2026 DHS OIG report revealed that at least 79 immigrant detainees were held in two outdoor metal cages, each measuring 4 feet 3 inches by 7 feet 9 inches, at the Alligator Alcatraz soft-sided detention camp in the Florida Everglades from July 2025 to January 2026. Staff called the cages "calming areas," but the OIG found locking mechanisms and documented disciplinary use. The report also cited overcrowding, insufficient medical care, and food safety violations.
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DHS Inspector General Report Finds 'Alligator Alcatraz' Held Detainees in Small Metal Cages
A Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) report released on September 14, 2026, found that detainees at Florida's now-closed 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention camp, officially named the Florida Soft-Sided Facility (FSSF), were held in phone booth–sized metal cages measuring 4 feet by 7 feet as punishment. The OIG described the cages as 'highly unconventional' and not aligned with humane treatment standards, noting that confining individuals in such enclosures presents significant risks to health and well-being. The report partially confirmed accounts by former detainees and Amnesty International that detainees were punished by being put in 'the box.' The OIG could not confirm or refute allegations that detainees were shackled in the cage for hours in the sun without water. The facility, opened under an agreement between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Trump administration, closed in June 2026 due to massive operating costs and allegations of inhumane conditions. The report also found overcrowding, insufficient medical care, food safety violations, lack of hygiene, and lack of access to legal counsel. A DeSantis spokesperson defended the camp, stating the cages were for 'violent criminal aliens' and that they would 'make it even smaller if we could.'
Read sourceDHS Inspector General Report Finds 'Alligator Alcatraz' Held Detainees in Small Metal Cages
A Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) report released on September 14, 2026, found that Florida's now-closed 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention camp, officially named the Florida Soft-Sided Facility (FSSF), held detainees in phone booth-sized metal cages measuring 4 feet by 7 feet as punishment. The cages, described by officials as 'calming areas,' were used to confine 79 detainees between July 2025 and January 2026, with claims they were kept under shade for no more than two hours with water available. The OIG deemed the practice 'highly unconventional' and a risk to detainee health. The report also identified numerous other violations including overcrowding (28 square feet per detainee vs. 75 required), insufficient medical care, food safety issues, bug-infested showers, and limited access to legal counsel. The facility, opened under an agreement between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Trump administration, closed in June 2026 due to high costs and allegations of inhumane conditions. A DeSantis spokesperson defended the cages as necessary for 'violent criminal aliens.'
Read sourceDHS Watchdog Finds ICE Used Phone-Booth-Sized Cages to Hold Detainees at Florida Camp
A new report from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) revealed that at least 79 immigrant detainees were held in two outdoor metal cages, roughly the size of a phone booth, at the Alligator Alcatraz soft-sided detention camp in the Florida Everglades between July 2025 and January 2026. Staff called the enclosures 'calming areas' and claimed they were never locked, but the OIG found locking mechanisms on both cages. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the cages were used for 'disciplinary issues, crisis intervention, housing changes, and conflicts among detainees.' The OIG documented one instance where a detainee who spent 26 minutes in a cage had 'failed to comply with a lawful command.' Democratic Senators Jon Ossoff and Dick Durbin had previously raised concerns about a similar structure called 'the box' where detainees were allegedly shackled in stress positions for hours. The OIG could not confirm those specific claims but stated the use of the cages was 'highly unconventional' and 'unprecedented among ICE facilities,' posing significant risks to detainee health and well-being. The facility has been the subject of numerous reports of inhumane conditions including flooding, worm-infested food, and lack of running water.
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DHS Watchdog Finds ICE Used Phone Booth-Sized Cages for Detainees at Florida Camp
A September 2026 report from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) revealed that two metal cages, roughly the size of a phone booth, were used to hold immigrant detainees at the Alligator Alcatraz soft-sided detention camp in the Florida Everglades. The camp operated from July 2025 to January 2026 under the Trump administration. According to the OIG, at least 79 detainees were confined in these outdoor enclosures, measuring 4 feet 3 inches wide and 7 feet 9 inches tall, for periods ranging from seven minutes to two hours. Staff referred to the cages as 'calming areas' and claimed they were never locked, though both had locking mechanisms. The OIG found one instance where a cage was used as a disciplinary tool for a detainee who 'failed to comply with a lawful command.' Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed the cages were used for disciplinary issues, crisis intervention, housing changes, and conflicts. The OIG stated the practice was 'highly unconventional' and 'unprecedented among ICE facilities,' posing significant risks to detainee health. Democratic Senators Jon Ossoff and Dick Durbin had previously raised concerns about a similar structure called 'the box.' The camp has been the subject of numerous reports of inhumane conditions, including flooding, worm-infested food, and lack of running water.
OIG Report Finds ICE Used Phone Booth-Sized Cages for Detainees at Florida Camp
A new report from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) revealed that two metal cages, roughly the size of a phone booth, were used to hold immigrant detainees at the Alligator Alcatraz soft-sided detention facility in the Florida Everglades. The camp operated from July 2025 to January 2026. According to the report, at least 79 detainees were held in these outdoor enclosures, each measuring four feet three inches wide and seven feet nine inches tall, for periods ranging from seven minutes to two hours. Staff referred to the cages as 'calming areas' and claimed they were never locked, though both cages had locking mechanisms. The OIG found one documented instance where a cage was used as a disciplinary tool after a detainee 'failed to comply with a lawful command.' Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed the cages were used for 'disciplinary issues, crisis intervention, housing changes, and conflicts among detainees.' The OIG stated the use of these enclosures was 'highly unconventional' and 'unprecedented among ICE facilities,' posing significant risks to detainee health and well-being. Democratic Senators Jon Ossoff and Dick Durbin had previously raised concerns about a similar structure called 'the box.' The facility has been the subject of numerous reports of inhumane conditions, including flooding, worm-infested food, and lack of running water.
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