Florida Republican Rep. Maria Salazar is pushing back against criticism of the state’s controversial migrant detention facility, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” saying the site meets “the highest of standards” despite Democratic accusations of inhumane treatment.
Salazar, who represents Florida’s 27th district, toured the facility over the weekend alongside other lawmakers. Speaking Tuesday on Fox & Friends, she shared her impressions and dismissed claims that conditions at the center are “cruel.”
“No one likes to be inside a cage,” Salazar admitted, “but the cages are clean, the beds are soft, and the conditions meet federal standards.”
Inside ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
The facility, located at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee, has drawn national attention for its remote setting and strict security. During her visit, Salazar described metal toilets with privacy dividers, phones available for legal or family calls, and access to Spanish-language Bibles and religious materials. She also noted a recreational area “with some grass” where detainees can exercise.
“They took us to a recreational area—also caged in—where they could run or do some exercise. It was better than what we expected,” Salazar said.
She added that detainees are provided space to meet privately with attorneys.
Attempts to Speak with Migrants Blocked
Salazar expressed frustration that she wasn’t allowed to fully engage with detainees.
“I shouted in Spanish, asking, ‘How are they treating you?’ One said, ‘Pretty good.’ Another said, ‘Not so bad,’” she recalled. “But I wanted a real conversation. They didn’t let me.”
Salazar briefly entered one of the cages and sat on a bed to better understand conditions.
Democrats Slam Conditions as ‘Appalling’
Her visit comes after a group of Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Rep. Darren Soto, toured the same facility and issued scathing reviews.
Wasserman Schultz described “Alligator Alcatraz” as an “internment camp” with “appalling” conditions, while Soto called it a “cruel political stunt” and “spectacle of political theater.”
ICE has also pushed back against the criticism, defending the center’s compliance with detention standards and legal access requirements.
As debate around the facility intensifies, Salazar maintained that the Biden-era immigration chaos has required firm, lawful solutions. “We’re dealing with a broken system. At least here, we’re treating people with dignity,” she said.
