A group of illegal aliens being held at a South Florida immigration detention facility—nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz”—has entered the tenth day of a hunger strike, in what critics are calling a political stunt designed to undermine deportation efforts and gain media sympathy.
Despite the fact that many detainees have criminal records, left-wing activists and Democrat politicians are using the situation to attack President Trump’s immigration policies, even as the Biden-Harris administration’s border crisis continues to spiral out of control.
Key Figure: Pedro Hernández
At the center of the protest is Pedro Hernández, a Cuban national who entered the U.S. in 2006 and was detained during an ICE check-in in Miramar this past July.
Though Hernández admits to a prior prison sentence, his supporters are attempting to recast him as a victim.
“My husband was in prison. We make mistakes, but we learn from them and fix things,” his wife, Daimarys Hernández, told NBC6.
In a recorded phone call from inside the facility, Hernández declared:
“I’m not going to eat another plate of food until they show us respect.”
Detainees Claim Harsh Conditions — State Pushes Back
Some detainees claim the facility has unsanitary conditions, limited food, and poor lighting, while Democrat-aligned media outlets have amplified those claims.
One detainee, Cuban artist Leamsy Izquierdo, told CBS News:
“They only brought a meal once a day and it has maggots… The mosquitoes are as big as elephants.”
But Florida officials have strongly disputed these reports, saying the facility meets all required health and safety standards.
“The reporting on the conditions in the facility is completely false,” said Stephanie Hartman, spokesperson for the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
“The facility is in good working order.”
Lawsuits, Legal Maneuvering, and Media Spin
The hunger strike has sparked lawsuits alleging environmental and civil rights violations, and attorneys claim they have been blocked from speaking with detainees—a claim state officials also deny.
Media reports have also downplayed the criminal histories of those detained. A review by local outlets found that only about one-third of detainees had prior convictions—raising questions about whether the facility truly houses only “the worst of the worst,” as previously stated.
Nonetheless, deportation flights have resumed, and Florida officials say the facility will continue to fulfill its mission of processing and removing illegal entrants who pose a public safety risk or violate immigration laws.
