Miami archbishop slams Everglades migrant detention site known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ as ‘unbecoming’ and ‘corrosive’

The Archdiocese of Miami is condemning Florida’s controversial migrant detention facility — which state officials have named “Alligator Alcatraz” — calling it “unbecoming of public officials” and “corrosive of the common good.”

In a strongly worded statement posted to the Archdiocese’s website, Archbishop Thomas Wenski criticized both the conditions at the remote detention site in the Everglades and the rhetoric surrounding it.

He wrote: “It is unbecoming of public officials and corrosive of the common good to speak of the deterrence value of ‘alligators and pythons’ at the Collier-Dade facility.”

Wenski’s statement also highlighted humanitarian concerns, noting the isolation of the facility from medical care and the vulnerability of the temporary tent structures to Florida’s harsh summer weather and hurricane threats. He also called for chaplains and ministers to be granted access to serve those in custody.

Meanwhile, a group of Democratic state lawmakers has filed a lawsuit against the state after being denied entry to the site last week. The complaint argues they are legally entitled to “immediate, unannounced access” to the facility.

“We weren’t looking for a sanitized field trip,” said State Sen. Shevrin Jones (D-District 34). “If [the allegations are] false, prove it. Show it.”

NBC6 has been reporting on detainees’ and family members’ allegations of “inhumane conditions”: limited access to showers, spoiled food, extreme heat, and mosquito infestations. The state has categorically denied these claims.

Lawmakers were later invited to a scheduled, 90-minute guided tour of the facility — but some say that’s not sufficient to ensure transparency.

Speaker of the House Danny Perez (R) defended the facility, stating, “It’s not a five-star hotel nor should it be a five-star resort. This is a detention center holding criminals.”

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has also requested access to the site. Her office says she is still waiting for a response, emphasizing that the property is located on county land.

The legal battle and public outcry add new urgency to the debate over immigration enforcement in Florida and the use of isolated, heavily guarded detention sites.