Detainees to Testify About Legal Access at 'Alligator Alcatraz'

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Former detainees at an immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades known as 'Alligator Alcatraz' are set to testify Wednesday about the conditions and their access to legal counsel at the facility. 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 federally-run detention centers.

Why it matters

The case highlights ongoing legal battles over the operation of the state-run Everglades facility, which was built last summer by the Republican governor's administration. Advocates argue detainees' First Amendment rights are being violated by restrictive attorney access policies, while state officials claim the protocols are in place for security and staffing reasons.

The details

The detainees' lawsuit claims that their attorneys have to make appointments to visit three days in advance, unlike at other immigration detention facilities where lawyers can just show up during visiting hours. They also allege detainees are often transferred to other facilities after their attorneys had made an appointment to see them, and that scheduling delays have prevented them from meeting with attorneys before key deadlines. State and federal officials deny restricting access and say any policies are in place for legitimate penological interests.

• The two-day federal court hearing began on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
• The Everglades detention center, known as 'Alligator Alcatraz', was built last summer by the Republican governor's administration.

What’s next

The federal judge will decide whether to grant a temporary injunction that would ensure detainees at the Everglades facility get the same access to their attorneys as they do at other immigration detention centers.