Mexican authorities have issued a formal travel warning to citizens visiting Florida, urging caution due to growing concerns over the state’s newly opened migrant detention site, informally dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”
The advisory follows reports that at least 14 Mexican nationals have been detained at the Everglades-based facility, including two men with legal U.S. visas who were allegedly arrested during a routine traffic stop. The Mexican government is now pushing for their immediate release and repatriation.
The detention center, located in a remote swamp region west of Miami, began operations earlier this month and is capable of housing thousands. Since its launch, the site has faced intense scrutiny from humanitarian organizations citing overcrowding, minimal medical access, overflowing sewage, and unsafe exposure to extreme weather and wildlife.
Officials have advised travelers to carry valid identification at all times, avoid suspicious rental services, and be mindful of their interactions with local authorities. The warning specifically applies to Mexican citizens visiting legally under visas or student programs.
Despite growing backlash, Florida officials have defended the facility as a necessary tool to address illegal immigration and ensure swift deportations. The first deportation flights have already taken place, removing around 100 individuals during initial operations.
Legal groups and human rights advocates continue to call for the facility’s closure, pointing to a lack of legal transparency, poor humanitarian conditions, and mounting diplomatic fallout. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has also voiced her concern, vowing to monitor the situation closely as the controversy escalates.