Florida lawmakers visit ‘Alligator Alcatraz' after being denied entry, say detainees confined in cages under ‘disturbing' conditions
The lawmakers condemned the facility and described it as crowded, unsanitary, and bug-infested. On the other hand, Republicans on the same tour said they saw nothing of the sort at the remote facility that officials have dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz.'
The state-arranged tour came after some Democrats were blocked earlier from viewing the 3,000-bed detention center that the state rapidly built on an isolated airstrip surrounded by swampland. Several state legislators and members of Congress turned up Saturday, and they were split into multiple groups.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World
Articles Vally
Undo
Following the inspection visit, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat, told reporters, 'There are really disturbing, vile conditions, and this place needs to be shut the hell down,' as quoted by news agency AP. Schultz made these remarks after visiting the agglomeration of tents, trailers, and temporary buildings. 'This place is a stunt, and they're abusing human beings here.'
Members of Congress and state representatives were given a limited tour to inspect conditions after calling the lack of access a 'deliberate obstruction meant to hide what's really happening behind those gates,' lawmakers said in a joint statement, CNN reported.
Live Events
They further claimed that detainees were shouting for help and crying out 'libertad,' Spanish for 'freedom,' amid scorching heat, bug infestations, and meager meals.
While speaking at a news conference following the visit, Schultz, who represents Florida's 25th Congressional District, said, 'They are essentially packed into cages, wall-to-wall humans, 32 detainees per cage.'
The families of detainees have also denounced the conditions in the detention facility. While Florida's Republican governor calls it 'safe and secure.' Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have also defended the facility, claiming that it offers higher detention standards than many American prisons.
Lawmakers claim they were shown empty cells
Lawmakers who visited the detention facility to take stock of the situation said that they were not allowed to see areas where migrants are currently being detained but instead were shown cells not yet being used, according to CNN.
Speaking about the condition of the cage-styled detention facility, Schultz and her fellow Florida Democrats said that the units of 32 men share three combination toilet-sink devices; the visitors measured the temperature at 83 degrees (28 degrees Celsius) in a housing area entranceway and 85 (29 degrees Celsius) in a medical intake area; and grasshoppers and other insects abound, AP reported.
The visitors also claimed that they were not able to speak with the detainees. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost, a Democrat, said one called out, 'I'm an American citizen!' and others chanted 'Libertad!' a Spanish word for 'freedom.'
When they saw the kitchen area, Schultz said government employees were being offered large pieces of roast chicken and sausages, while the detainees' lunch consisted of a 'gray turkey and cheese sandwich, an apple, and chips,' according to CNN.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
26 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Detention of Bengali migrants: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asks President Murmu to intervene
Flagging the detention and deportation of migrant workers from West Bengal during drives against illegal Bangladeshi nationals in several states of the country, senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Sunday urged President Droupadi Murmu to intervene. In a letter to the President, the former Congress MP wrote: 'It's very sad and cruel fact that Bengali-speaking daily wage labourers, who are bonafide Indian citizens, are being targeted due to their physical appearance and accent, which is being mistaken for that of Bangladeshis. This similarity is being used as a pretext to harass, humiliate, physically assault, and hold these innocent people in detention.' Expressing concerns that 'witch-hunting of Bangladeshis' is leading to large-scale repatriation of Bengali migrant workers, Chowdhury wrote: 'I would like to reiterate that those lakhs of migrant workers who were compelled to venture into other states for their livelihoods also contribute significantly to the revenue kitty of the state government through their remittances. Now, those migrants are supposed to be rendered unemployed…' The former state Congress chief said the President should intervene by taking appropriate measures to see that 'innocent Bengali-speaking people, who are bonafide Indian nationals working as labourers in Odisha, Maharashtra and other states are not subjected to harassment, humiliation, torture and loss of livelihood'. A copy of the letter has also been sent to West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose. In recent weeks and months, several Bengali migrant workers on suspicion of being illegal Bangladeshi nationals have been detained, and some of them pushed into Bangladesh from states like Odisha, Maharashtra, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh – all BJP-ruled states.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
We Tibetans deeply indebted to India for warm hospitality: Dalai Lama
File photo: Dalai Lama NEW DELHI: In a special message read out at a day-long conference organised here to mark his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama said "we Tibet ans" are deeply indebted to the govt and people of India for the warm hospitality they have shown since 1959, even as he indirectly questioned China's claim over Tibet. The Tibetan spiritual leader recalled how it had been more than 66 years since a large number of Tibetans, including him, fled to India following the "Chinese Communist invasion of Tibet". Referring to India as "Arya Bhumi" in his written message read out at the conference by his confidant and noted scholar Samdhong Rinpoche, the Dalai Lama said that "here (India) I have enjoyed the freedom and opportunity to continue my studies of ancient Indian wisdom". He felt a "special closeness" to India, which, over and above being the world's most populous country and the largest democracy, is the land of the Buddha, the place where he attained enlightenment, he added. Reflecting on the profound impact the 14th Dalai Lama has had on the world, a declaration adopted at the conference organised by International Buddhist Confederation and attended by nearly 500 participants, including renowned Buddhist monks and scholars, hailed him for having consistently championed the preservation of the rich Tibetan culture and religious freedom. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "His (Dalai Lama) recent statement announcing the continuation of his reincarnation, and only by Tibetan people without any foreign interference is a testament of preserving its culture and heritage," the declaration stated. "His wisdom in safeguarding the sacred institution of the Dalai Lama - particularly his clear and courageous stance on its future - stands as a beacon of spiritual integrity in the modern world," it said. In his message, the Dalai Lama added, "I believe that if aspects of India's ancient wisdom, of which the Buddha's teachings are a part, are combined with modern education they can make a beneficial contribution to greater peace and happiness in the world". Recalling that soon after "we Tibetans" came to India, the Dalai Lama said the Indian govt actively supported establishment of schools for Tibetan children to receive modern education while also learning about Tibetan culture and traditions.
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Hemant flags hacking of JMM's X account
1 2 Ranchi: JMM president and chief minister Hemant Soren on Sunday said the official X account of his party has been hacked, prompting him to order a police investigation into it. Apart from expressing concern over the breach, the chief minister appealed to the Elon Musk-owned social media giant to take cognisance of the matter. Party members said at 12:12 am on Sunday, the hackers posted a suspicious link along with an image of a rodent on the JMM's X account, which was immediately flagged by Hemant on his social media platform. No other activity related to hacking was detected on the account thereafter. Taking to X, Hemant, who is in Delhi to attend to his ailing father Shibu Soren, wrote, "The official X handle of JMM @JmmJharkhand has been hacked by anti-social elements. @JharkhandPolice please take cognisance of this matter and investigate it promptly. @XCorpIndia please take cognisance of this matter. @GlobalAffairs" In the recent past, a series of cyber attacks have also targeted social media accounts of politicians, top-ranked bureaucrats, political parties and websites of prominent govt organisations in Jharkhand, exposing the growing vulnerability of digital platforms. The latest attack on the official X handle of JMM was also just the tip of the iceberg. Around one and a half months ago, state agriculture minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey also fell victim to a cybercrime. According to the minister, her Instagram and Facebook accounts were compromised. Experts said these incidents were not isolated cases. Just days ago in June, cyber frauds impersonated Ranchi DC Manjunath Bhajantri, raising concerns about his identity theft with the intention to defraud and cheat others of their hard-earned money or gain sensitive information. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo The DC's office immediately announced that someone had impersonated the officer's Facebook account, thus preventing any further damage. . Similarly, the social accounts of Hazaribag DC Shashi Prakash Singh and his Dhanbad counterpart Aditya Ranjan were also faked. In both cases, the fraudsters were found engaging in conversations with the known contacts of the two officers, to demand money or collect sensitive information. The hackers, however, failed in their attempts after the offices of the DCs also issued warnings about the hacking. Even political leaders have not been spared by these cyber frauds as Panki BJP MLA from Palamu, Shashi Bhushan Mehta, was duped of Rs 1.27 lakh on July 1. Moreover, websites of prominent organisations like Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), too, have suffered technical glitches, sparking speculations of being hacked by fraudsters originating in a foreign country. According to cyber experts, hackers are often sponsored by enemy countries and they can have multiple intentions behind their attacks. "Many times, these attacks are sponsored by neighbouring enemy states to retrieve crucial information by gaining access to the social media platforms of prominent figures and organisations," said Vineet Kumar, the founder and global president of CyberPeace Foundation. He informed that the attacks are launched at critical and sensitive infrastructure, including water treatment and energy plants, and hospitals to disrupt normal activities and create chaos. "Apart from information gathering, many attacks are orchestrated for financial fraud and duping people. The newest form of financial fraud that has been emerging is that Indian nationals are being trafficked to Cambodia via Thailand and employed in scam centres run by India's enemy countries to dupe Indian citizens," Kumar added. As the menace is growing rapidly, law-enforcing agencies have also been taking a proactive stance against it. On July 5, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) busted an organised Chinese cybercrime network, arresting seven individuals involved in illegal investment scams and digital arrests. Police sources said the modus operandi of the hackers and their sponsors was to send malicious apps to smartphones linked with bank accounts. "Once the phone owner installed the apps, they automatically transmit OTPs and all bank alerts sent to the particular phone to servers controlled from China. This enabled the Chinese hackers to gain remote access to the Indian bank accounts which were then used to transfer the defrauded money to offshore accounts," the source added.
