Lawyer Alleges Guards Beat and Pepper-Sprayed Detainees at Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
A lawyer representing detainees at the controversial ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades has accused guards of severely beating and pepper-spraying inmates. The alleged abuse occurred on April 2, 2026, after detainees complained about non-functioning telephones, which are their primary means of contacting family and legal counsel. Attorney Katherine Blankenship stated in a court declaration that guards became aggressive, taunting detainees before physically assaulting them. Specific allegations include punching, kicking, and restraining one detainee with a knee to the neck, resulting in injuries such as a bruised eye and broken wrist. This incident is part of an ongoing legal battle where a federal judge previously ordered the facility to provide adequate, unmonitored phone access, citing First Amendment violations. While state officials deny restricting attorney access, citing security concerns, U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz recently described the facility's conditions as inhumane after being denied access to speak with detainees. The facility, established by Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration to support former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, remains under intense scrutiny for its operational practices and treatment of immigrants.
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Lawyer Alleges Guards Beat and Pepper-Sprayed Detainees at Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
A lawyer representing detainees at the controversial ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades has accused guards of severely beating and pepper-spraying inmates. The alleged abuse occurred on April 2, 2026, after detainees complained about non-functioning telephones, which are their primary means of contacting family and legal counsel. Attorney Katherine Blankenship stated in a court declaration that guards became aggressive, taunting detainees before physically assaulting them. Specific allegations include punching, kicking, and restraining one detainee with a knee to the neck, resulting in injuries such as a bruised eye and broken wrist. This incident is part of an ongoing legal battle where a federal judge previously ordered the facility to provide adequate, unmonitored phone access, citing First Amendment violations. While state officials deny restricting attorney access, citing security concerns, U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz recently described the facility's conditions as inhumane after being denied access to speak with detainees. The facility, established by Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration to support former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, remains under intense scrutiny for its operational practices and treatment of immigrants.
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