DHS Watchdog: Detainees at Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' Held in Phone-Booth-Sized Cages

Detainees held at Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" federal immigration jail were frequently confined in outdoor metal cages no larger than a phone booth before the facility was closed, according to a report from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General.

The report, published on the watchdog's website, concluded that the practice "does not align with standards for humane treatment," according to the findings cited by The Guardian.

The inspector general's assessment represents rare internal criticism of a Trump administration immigration facility from within one of its own oversight agencies, the report noted.

"Alligator Alcatraz" had drawn scrutiny from civil rights groups and lawmakers over conditions at the site prior to its closure. The DHS watchdog's report adds documented findings to those earlier concerns, specifically highlighting the use of small outdoor metal cages to hold detainees.

The Department of Homeland Security has not yet issued a public response to the specific findings detailed in the inspector general's report, according to available reporting.

The facility's closure came before the watchdog's report was released. Further details on the timeline of the closure and any corrective actions taken by DHS were not immediately available.