Lawyer Alleges Abuse of ICE Detainees at Florida Detention Center

Guards accused of beating and pepper-spraying detainees who complained about lack of phone access

Apr. 16, 2026 at 7:57am

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A serene, photorealistic painting of a tall, rusted metal fence or gate surrounded by lush greenery, with warm sunlight casting long shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of isolation and melancholy.The alleged abuse of immigration detainees at a remote Florida facility raises concerns about the treatment of vulnerable populations in custody.Today in Orlando

According to a lawyer representing two detainees, guards at a state-run immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades known as "Alligator Alcatraz" severely beat and pepper-sprayed detainees after they complained about not having phone access on April 2. The lawyer said the guards targeted her clients and other detainees, punching one in the face, throwing another to the floor and beating him, and breaking the wrist of a third detainee.

Why it matters

The alleged abuse of detainees at the Florida detention center raises concerns about the treatment of immigrants in custody and the ability of detainees to communicate with their families and lawyers. The incident also highlights ongoing legal battles over access to phone services and other basic rights for those held in immigration detention facilities.

The details

According to the lawyer's declaration, the guards began taunting the detainees who were in a cell after they complained about the phones not working, which are their primary way to communicate with family and attorneys. When one detainee approached a guard, he was punched in the face, and the guards then started beating other detainees in the cell. One of the lawyer's clients was punched in the right eye, thrown to the floor, and beaten by several guards, including having a guard's knee on his neck while being restrained. Another detainee had his wrist broken during the incident.

  • The incident occurred on April 2, 2026.
  • Phone service was restored the next day without explanation.

The players

Katherine Blankenship

A lawyer representing two detainees at the Florida immigration detention center.

Sheri Polster Chappell

A U.S. District Judge in Fort Myers, Florida who issued a preliminary injunction last month ordering the detention center to provide detainees with access to timely, free, confidential, unmonitored and unrecorded outgoing legal calls.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz

A U.S. Representative from Florida who visited the detention center last week and described the conditions as "inhumane" and the way detainees are housed as "cruel and unnecessary".

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What they’re saying

“The officers beat several people during this incident and broke another detained individual's wrist.”

— Katherine Blankenship, Lawyer

“The way the detainees are housed is cruel and unnecessary.”

— Debbie Wasserman Schultz, U.S. Representative

What’s next

The court will continue to monitor the detention center's compliance with the judge's order to provide detainees with adequate phone access and other basic rights.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing concerns about the treatment of immigrants in detention facilities and the importance of ensuring detainees have access to communication with their families, lawyers, and the outside world. It also underscores the need for continued oversight and accountability to prevent abuse.