Detainees to Testify About Legal Access at 'Alligator Alcatraz'

Federal judge to consider whether immigration detainees are getting sufficient access to legal counsel at Florida facility.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 11:47pm

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Former detainees are set to testify Wednesday about conditions at an immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades known as 'Alligator Alcatraz.' Civil rights attorneys representing the detainees are seeking a temporary injunction from a federal judge to ensure detainees get the same access to their attorneys as they do at other immigration detention facilities.

Why it matters

The case highlights concerns over restrictions on legal access for immigration detainees at the state-run Everglades facility, which was built last summer by the Republican governor's administration. The detainees' lawsuit claims their First Amendment rights are being violated by policies that make it more difficult for them to meet with their attorneys.

The details

The detainees' lawsuit claims that their attorneys have to make an appointment to visit three days in advance, unlike at other immigration detention facilities where lawyers can just show up during visiting hours. They also say detainees are often transferred to other facilities after their attorneys had made an appointment to see them, and that scheduling delays have been so lengthy that detainees were unable to meet with attorneys before key deadlines.

  • The Everglades facility was built last summer by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration.
  • The federal judge is holding a two-day hearing on Wednesday and Thursday to consider the detainees' request for a temporary injunction.

The players

Sheri Polster Chappell

U.S. District Judge in Fort Myers who is presiding over the hearing.

Juan Lopez Vega

Deputy field office director of ICE's enforcement and removal operations in Miami, who is expected to testify on Wednesday.

Ron DeSantis

Republican governor of Florida who oversaw the construction of the Everglades detention facility.

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What’s next

The federal judge will continue the two-day hearing on Thursday to further consider the detainees' request for a temporary injunction.

The takeaway

This case highlights ongoing concerns about access to legal counsel for immigration detainees, particularly at state-run facilities like the Everglades detention center. The outcome could set an important precedent for how such facilities balance security protocols with detainees' constitutional rights.