DACA Recipient Detained in ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Amid Growing Concerns Over Legal Protections

DACA Recipient Detained in 'Alligator Alcatraz' Amid Growing Concerns Over Legal Protections

A 36-year-old man who holds legal protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program has become one of the first people transferred to Florida’s new detention site in the Everglades. This facility has raised serious questions since its rapid opening. The man was initially taken into custody over a suspended license charge and was later moved to what detainees and lawyers have begun referring to as “Alligator Alcatraz.”

What DACA Means and Why It Matters

DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a federal immigration policy established in 2012 that allows certain undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children to remain in the country legally. Recipients, often referred to as Dreamers, are protected from deportation and granted work authorization if they meet specific requirements. According to FindLaw, they are considered to be lawfully present and are permitted to live and work in the United States, though the protection does not offer a path to citizenship.

The man in question, whose name has not been made public, was arrested after law enforcement officers discovered a warrant for his arrest during a traffic stop for a broken mirror. According to his attorney, Josephine Arroyo, the original warrant stemmed from a missed court date for a driving violation. Arroyo explained that the court notice had been sent to an old address, which led to the missed hearing and subsequent legal confusion.

Living Conditions at the Everglades Facility

Since his transfer to the Everglades site early Saturday, the man has only been able to speak to his attorney once. The call, which occurred through a connection facilitated by his brother, revealed what Arroyo described as troubling living conditions. She said her client spoke of mosquitoes, broken toilets, and food that was difficult to eat. There are also no facilities in place for in-person attorney visits, a detail that has raised concern among legal advocates.

“It’s not a detention facility that is going to be up to par with the requirements necessarily, so yeah, it’s horrible,” Arroyo said as reported by the Orlando Sentinel. “Never in a million years did I think our client would be there, especially given his legal status and his charge of driving with a suspended license.”

Arroyo added that she had already submitted documentation to the court proving her client’s license was valid and that the original charge had been downgraded to a civil citation. She has since petitioned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for a bond that would allow the man to leave detention while awaiting further review of his case.

Growing Scrutiny of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

The facility was first introduced to the public less than a month ago and has already drawn scrutiny. Located deep within the Everglades at a site previously used for training flights, the detention center is expected to expand to hold up to 5,000 individuals. State officials have not released full details about who qualifies for transfer, nor have they responded to inquiries from press outlets seeking clarification.

Arroyo said the use of the facility to detain individuals with minor infractions, particularly those with legal protection under federal programs like DACA, sets a dangerous precedent. She reiterated the need for legal access and due process.

“Those that are inside are literally voiceless, and it’s important that they have access to their attorneys who can be that voice,” she said. “Immigrants have constitutional rights and rights to due process solely by being here on American soil, and a lot of people forget about that.”

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