First Thing: ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detainees face human rights violations, report alleges

<p>Amnesty finds detainees at Florida facility were shackled and left outside in metal cage. Plus, how the dollar-store industry overcharges consumers</p><p>Good morning.</p><p>Detainees at the notorious Florida immigration jail known as “Alligator Alcatraz” were shackled inside a 2ft-high metal cage and left outside without water for up to a day at a time, a shocking report published on Thursday by Amnesty International alleges.</p><p><strong>Wait, didn’t a judge order the facility to shut down?</strong> A federal judge in August <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/21/trump-alligator-alcatraz-judge-ruling">ordered it to close</a> after a wave of criticism and a lawsuit by environmental groups. However, by October, the facility was operating again with hundreds of detainees after two Trump-appointed appellate court judges – one whose husband <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/02/alligator-alcatraz-ron-desantis-paul-huck">has close ties</a> to the Republican governor Ron DeSantis – blocked the closure ruling.</p><p><strong>Has the state of Florida responded to the allegations?</strong> The press secretary to DeSantis told the Guardian the allegations were “fabrications” and part of a “politically motivated attack”.</p><p><strong>Why have they released these photos now?</strong> It’s unclear. Even though the images do not reveal anything new, they keep the pressure on the Trump administration ahead of a 19 December deadline for the justice department to release files, as per the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/18/house-vote-epstein-documents">Epstein Files Transparency Act</a>, signed 19 November.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/04/first-thing-alligator-alcatraz-detainees-human-rights-violations-amnesty-report-alleges">Continue reading...</a>

Read the full article at: The Guardian World →