Mexico Requests Immediate Repatriation of Citizens Held in Florida Detention Center
Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has called for the return of at least 30 of its citizens currently detained in a Florida immigration facility referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
On Wednesday, Sheinbaum stated that a formal request had been sent to U.S. authorities, urging the immediate repatriation of any Mexican nationals who may be held at the center.
“There is no justification for keeping them in these detention centers,” Sheinbaum said. “Under U.S. laws, our goal is to ensure their prompt return instead of prolonged detention.”
The 39-acre (16-hectare) facility, located roughly 40 miles (64 km) from Miami, has faced widespread condemnation from advocacy groups. Reports indicate overcrowded conditions, sanitation issues leading to unsanitary confinement, and restricted access to medical assistance.
Despite the criticism, U.S. officials have defended the center, highlighting its remote location in a swamp area populated by pythons, alligators, and crocodiles.
Sheinbaum’s remarks followed a visit by Mexico’s consul in Miami, Rutilio Escandón, who became the first foreign consul to inspect the detention center. Escandón spoke with 39 detained Mexican citizens, who described inadequate hygiene, extreme temperatures, and frequent mosquito exposure.
Separately, Roberto Velasco Álvarez, a senior official at Mexico’s foreign ministry, confirmed that two Mexican brothers previously held at the facility—one of whom had entered the U.S. on a tourist visa—had been returned to Mexico without facing charges.
The facility’s opening coincides with increased nationwide enforcement actions by U.S. authorities targeting migrants and asylum seekers, resulting in widespread apprehensions.
“The conditions faced by our citizens, especially amid these enforcement measures, are deeply distressing,” Sheinbaum said. “We will continue to stand with them.”
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