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Ochopee, FL - Records reveal 34 emergency 911 calls from the state-run Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention center since its July 1st opening, averaging two per day and including complaints about unknown problems, medical issues, and legal advice needs.
In a report by NBC 6 South Florida, the types of calls highlighted ongoing concerns at the remote Everglades site holding over 700 detainees, only a third of whom have criminal records, contradicting claims that it houses only the most serious offenders.
During a press conference last Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis asserted that deportations of illegal migrants from the facility have already occurred and are set to accelerate, while emphasizing offers of paid returns to home countries upon arrival.
Eunice Cho, an ACLU attorney involved in a lawsuit against the center, explained that migrants denied attorney access face deportation as their sole exit option, fueling allegations of inadequate legal support and inhumane conditions.
The facility has drawn criticism from advocacy groups and Florida Democrats pushing a bill to close it, though state officials defend phone access for detainees and scheduled in-person attorney visits.