Overview
- The report traces a surge in detentions since January 2025 that tripled occupancy at Krome by March and led Florida to erect the tented Alligator Alcatraz camp in early July.
- Researchers documented overcrowded cells, constant lighting, broken sanitation and denial of basic hygiene at three ICE facilities as well as medical neglect for chronic conditions.
- Detainees said they were shackled to eat, punished for mental health requests and subjected to racial slurs, constituting degrading treatment across multiple sites.
- At least two deaths in custody—a Haitian woman at BTC and a Canadian man at FDC—have been linked to delayed medical care in the context of systemic neglect.
- Florida has financed the Everglades camp at an estimated $450 million annual cost pending FEMA reimbursement, while DHS denies overcrowding claims and faces mounting litigation and legislative probes.