Rep. Frost: Federal Watchdog Confirms Reports of Inhumane Conditions at “Alligator Alcatraz”

September 14, 2026 Rep. Frost: Federal Watchdog Confirms Reports of Inhumane Conditions at “Alligator Alcatraz” WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) released the following statement after a Department of Homeland Security Inspector General report confirmed that detainees at the now-shuttered “Alligator Alcatraz” were held in outdoor metal cages as small as 16 square feet for extended periods of time: “Today’s report confirms what we already knew: what happened at Alligator Alcatraz was disgusting, inhumane, and a stain on Florida’s history. I saw those conditions with my own eyes. I went to Alligator Alcatraz twice, and before both visits, I was specifically told to see “the cage” in the recreation area — including that there had been blood inside it. Both times, I was assured the cages were no longer being used. Now we know that wasn’t true. The federal government’s own watchdog confirmed that people were being held in outdoor metal cages barely larger than a telephone booth, sometimes for nearly two hours. This does not end with Alligator Alcatraz. People in ICE custody across America are still facing horrific conditions. I will continue conducting oversight at facilities across Florida and demanding answers.” ### Print Email Share Tweet