Former Detainee Claims He Was Held in Tiny Cage for 15 Hours at Florida Immigration Facility

Detainee alleges 15-hour confinement in small cage at Alligator Alcatraz, a shuttered ICE facility in Florida.

September 18, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Ochopee, Florida — A former detainee at the now-closed Alligator Alcatraz immigration facility claims he was held in a cramped metal enclosure for over 15 hours, where he feared snakes and endured mosquitoes in the middle of a Florida swamp, according to an interview.

Raúl Suárez Herrero, 59, said he was placed in a cage measuring 7 feet 9 inches tall and 4 feet 3 inches wide after praying aloud for a sick detainee at the site, which has been criticized for its harsh conditions. The incident occurred at the facility, which was managed by the state of Florida under Gov. Ron DeSantis’s immigration policies.

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A Department of Homeland Security watchdog report from September confirmed the use of small cages at the site, calling their use “highly unconventional” and inconsistent with humane treatment standards. Despite this, facility staff claimed the enclosures were used as “calming areas” for detainees, though Suárez disputed this, saying he was forced into the cage and remained there for more than 15 hours without medical care.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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