On 23/6, Florida officials began constructing an immigration detention facility at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, deep within the Everglades. This area is home to a diverse range of wildlife, notably American alligators and American crocodiles.

The facility has been nicknamed the "Alcatraz of the Everglades", after the supposedly "inescapable" former prison on Alcatraz Island in California. It began receiving detained immigrants on 2/7.

Contrary to Florida officials' claims of "efficiency and cost-effectiveness", after more than two weeks of operation, the facility is reportedly facing numerous logistical challenges. Toilets frequently back up, wastewater has to be collected and transported by truck, and mosquitoes and other insects plague both detainees and staff.

Toilet and bunk beds in a cell at the "Alcatraz of the Everglades" in Florida on 1/7. Photo: *AFP*

The "Alcatraz of the Everglades" lies along the route connecting Miami and Naples, cutting through the Everglades. The self-contained facility is designed to hold up to 3,000 people, with the potential for expansion. Detainees are housed in trailers and tents, typically used for temporary shelter after natural disasters.

"The living conditions here are inhumane," a Venezuelan detainee told *AP* by phone. "My biggest concern is the psychological pressure they're putting on people to sign voluntary deportation papers."

Cells are described as "cages", containing 8 beds, surrounded by wire fencing, and infested with mosquitoes, crickets, and frogs. The lack of windows makes it nearly impossible to distinguish day from night. Detainees are shackled and escorted by two guards whenever they appear before an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.

Other detainees also described the mosquito infestation in the South Florida swamps as "terrible and relentless".

"Most of our skin is itchy and burning from mosquito bites. They don't give us mosquito repellent. All the detainees are worried about contracting diseases from these insects," said Anderson Miranda, 25, who entered the US from Guatemala at age 16.

"The mosquitoes don't let you sleep," said Juan Javier Gonzalez, 49, a detainee from the Dominican Republic.

Guards received one bottle of mosquito repellent on their first day, but detainees were only sprayed once upon arrival, according to three former contract guards who spoke to *The Washington Post*. They took jobs at the "Alcatraz of the Everglades" for the attractive pay of 26 USD per hour, with overtime at 39 USD per hour, significantly higher than Florida's average guard wage of 22 USD per hour.

"Mosquitoes are everywhere in the bathrooms and toilets. When you shower, you're with millions of them. They provide insect repellent, but it's useless," said a former female guard who quit due to the working conditions.

Location and diagram of the "Alcatraz of the Everglades". Graphics: *The Washington Post*

Due to the lack of electricity and water infrastructure, water tankers deliver drinking and bathing water to the facility several times a day, but it's still insufficient, according to the former guards.

Detainees reported going days without showers, being denied prescription medication, and enduring midday heat with malfunctioning or turned-off air conditioning. Floors are constantly wet, meals consist of cold-cut sandwiches, and basic hygiene items like deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste are scarce.

"They don't have water to bathe or rinse their mouths. The toilets are clogged, and waste overflows onto the floor. They only get one meal a day and have only two minutes to eat it. The food has maggots," a 28-year-old female detainee told her husband in a phone call.

A former guard described detainees lying around all day. Some were ill, but management discouraged mask-wearing "to avoid causing panic".

To pass the time, some detainees use towels as soccer balls or cut cardboard from lunch boxes to make dominoes. There's also an artificial turf area on a concrete base for outdoor activities.

Florida Republican lawmakers visited the facility and described it as clean and well-run, claiming they inspected the beds and found them comfortable. Democrats, however, argued they only saw a "staged and sanitized" version. Requests by some lawmakers to stay longer for observation or conduct independent inspections were denied.

Former President Donald Trump (left) and officials visit the "Alcatraz of the Everglades" in Ochopee, Florida, on 1/7. Photo: *AP*

On 16/7, the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans for Immigrant Justice, representing four detainees, filed a lawsuit against Florida authorities in Miami federal court, alleging inhumane conditions at the "Alcatraz of the Everglades".

Florida officials deny the allegations.

"The detention facility meets all necessary standards and is operating effectively," said Stephanie Hartman, spokesperson for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, which built the facility.

Hartman dismissed media reports as "completely fabricated".

"None of that is happening. All detainees have access to medical care, three meals a day, unlimited drinking water, showers, and other necessities," she said, adding that they have phone access to their lawyers.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, said the state has paused plans for additional detention facilities until the "Alcatraz of the Everglades" reaches capacity.

"I want to move everyone to the 'Alcatraz'. We're not doing this just to house them, though they are housed. All minimum standards are met. In fact, the facility is set up to be a rapid processing center. We have a runway there; we can put them on planes and deport them," DeSantis said.

Nhu Tam (*The Washington Post, AP*)