Attorneys File Federal Claims of Guards Beating Detainees After Phone Lines Cut — “An Officer Punched Him in the Right Eye and Began to Beat Him.”

Serious allegations of violence and civil rights violations have emerged from a remote immigration detention facility in the Florida Everglades, according to a recent federal court filing. Attorneys representing detainees claim guards at the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” center used excessive force, including beatings and pepper spray, following a disruption in phone access earlier this month.

The claims, filed by immigration attorney Katherine Blankenship, describe an incident that allegedly began on April 2, when detainees reported that phone lines—described as their only link to legal counsel and family—suddenly stopped working. According to the filing, detainees protested, prompting what attorneys allege was a violent response from facility staff.

Two detainees, Raiko Lopez Morffi and Lazaro Hernandez Galban, told their attorney that a confrontation escalated when a guard allegedly punched another detainee. Morffi was then reportedly thrown to the ground and beaten by multiple officers.

“An officer punched Mr. Morffi in his right eye and began to beat him,” Blankenship wrote in the filing. She alleges Morffi suffered injuries to his shoulder and arm, was kicked in the head, and restrained with a knee pressed against his neck. Photographs submitted as evidence reportedly show visible bruising during a video call on April 10.

The filing further claims that guards—who allegedly did not wear identification—used pepper spray on detainees confined in a holding area, causing at least one older individual to lose consciousness due to breathing difficulties. Detainees then reportedly barricaded themselves inside to prevent further alleged assaults.

The facility, formally overseen by the Florida Division of Emergency Management, has not publicly responded to the allegations. Meanwhile, both the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined comment, citing ongoing litigation.

“Alligator Alcatraz,” constructed on a former airstrip in the Everglades, was opened under the direction of Ron DeSantis and has drawn national attention since its launch. During a prior visit, Donald Trump described the facility’s isolated location, surrounded by swampland and wildlife, as a deterrent to escape.

Advocates and legal experts have increasingly raised concerns about conditions at the facility. Some, including author Andrea Pitzer, have compared it to historical detention systems, citing alleged systemic abuse and lack of oversight.

In addition to claims of physical violence, the filing alleges detainees are routinely denied access to personal mail and have missed immigration court hearings due to communication barriers. Blankenship argues these restrictions violate detainees’ constitutional rights and impede access to legal representation.

The court filing comes after a federal judge ordered authorities to ensure detainees have access to confidential legal calls, mandating at least one functioning telephone for every 25 individuals.

The allegations remain unproven, and the case is ongoing. Federal review is expected to determine whether the claims warrant further investigation or corrective action.