Protests Continue at Alligator Alcatraz Detention Center in Florida Amid Controversy
The Alligator Alcatraz detention center, located in Ochopee, Florida, has been the site of ongoing protests since August 2025, shortly after the camp opened. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had praised the facility as a model for detention and deportation policy. Despite a federal court order in August to close the jail, later reversed by an appeals court, vigils have continued regularly, drawing protesters from across Florida and beyond, especially gathering on Sundays.
Detainee Justo Betancourt, a 54-year-old Cuban-born man with diabetes, reportedly has been denied insulin and faced imminent removal to Mexico. His daughter has expressed concern over the lack of court dates and the fear of her father's disappearance. Reports from detainees have described harsh conditions at the facility.
The protests have been organized by a broad coalition coordinated by Noelle Damico of the Workers Circle, uniting churches, unions, veterans, Native American groups, and others. Thousands more are expected to join during the holiday season. Pastor Andy Oliver has organized bus convoys to bring supporters, framing the issue as one of religious liberty and liberation.
Veteran John Reynolds, 81, who served during the Vietnam era, has publicly criticized ICE’s actions as racist and emphasized that the vigils aim to raise public awareness about perceived injustices at the center. Civil rights activist Lois Cohen, 91, has drawn parallels between the jail’s conditions and Holocaust-era persecution. She noted that the facility accelerated its operations again after a September court decision and stressed the importance of maintaining public attention on the issue.
