Homepage News Trump-administration accused of covering up hunger strike in “Alligator Alcatraz”

Trump-administration accused of covering up hunger strike in “Alligator Alcatraz”

Donald Trump
Joey Sussman / Shutterstock

Homeland Security denies the allegations, calling reports “fake news”.

Others are reading now

Homeland Security denies the allegations, calling reports “fake news”.

What is happening?

A migrant rights organization has accused the Trump administration of covering up a hunger strike at a recently opened immigration detention center deep in the Florida Everglades.

Detainees at the facility, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” have reportedly been refusing food for nearly two weeks.

Florida Immigrant Coalition sounds the alarm

According to the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), multiple sources confirm the protest.

“We don’t have to assume it — we’ve seen ambulances and heard directly from detainees and their families,” said FLIC spokesperson Thomas Kennedy in an interview with news agency dpa.

Homeland Security denies Strike, calls reports ‘fake news’

Also read

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) fired back on social media, labeling the reports as “FAKE NEWS.”

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), DHS insisted, “There is NO hunger strike,” claiming detainees are provided three meals a day along with water and other drinks.

Videos appear to show medical emergencies

Despite government denials, Kennedy released videos showing ambulances leaving the detention facility.

He claimed around a dozen detainees are participating in the hunger strike and said some had been hospitalized due to deteriorating health conditions.

Firsthand accounts undermine official narrative

Several detainees have spoken to media outlets, asserting they are indeed on hunger strike.

Also read

One Cuban migrant and his wife confirmed to NBC News and El País that he had been refusing food and was taken to the hospital as a result of his protest.

FLIC calls DHS response “easily disprovable lie”

FLIC’s Thomas Kennedy criticized the federal response, accusing DHS of gaslighting the public.

“The DHS is saying a hunger strike isn’t happening while the detainees themselves are saying, ‘We are on hunger strike,’” he told reporters.

Poor conditions reported inside the facility

Concerns over living conditions at the detention center had already surfaced.

CNN, citing relatives and Democratic lawmakers, previously reported extreme heat, malfunctioning toilets, and limited access to clean water, food, and legal representation.

Also read

The government has dismissed these claims.

Facility nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz”

The site has earned the nickname “Alligator Alcatraz” due to its remote location and high-security setup.

Located deep in the Florida Everglades, it was recently opened to help manage the growing number of migrants facing deportation.

Part of Trump’s broader deportation strategy

The facility was officially launched in late June by President Donald Trump.

It is designed to hold thousands of migrants as part of his administration’s expanded deportation policy — a key pillar of his immigration agenda.

Growing pressure for transparency and oversight

Also read

With conflicting reports and mounting concerns from rights groups, pressure is increasing on the federal government to allow independent oversight.

Advocates are calling for full transparency about conditions inside the facility and the well-being of those detained.

Ads by MGDK