Migrants at 'Alligator Alcatraz' were held in phone booth-sized cages, which human rights activists call torture.

The cells, which were referred to in documents as "calming areas," were used to allow detainees to "reflect on their behavior, manage their emotions, reduce stress, and calm themselves down," according to the inspector general's report. The horrific conditions described by NBC News.

Some migrants held at the now-closed Alligator Alcatraz detention center in Florida were placed in open-air cages only slightly larger than a phone booth and held there for more than an hour, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's inspector general.

This report marks the first time a government agency has officially confirmed the existence of such cramped cages at the South Florida Detention Center. Previously, Amnesty International, in its December report based on interviews with detainees and a tour of the facility, stated that the cages were used as punishment and, in fact, constituted a form of torture. These findings prompted a US Congressional investigation.

On the subject: The infamous 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration prison has been closed.

The inspector general's findings, however, are more measured, but the report clearly states that "the use of such confined spaces is highly unusual and does not meet standards for humane treatment."

The publication of these findings marks a rare instance of a federal inspector general publicly criticizing the Donald Trump administration. Since returning to the White House in 2025, he has fired at least 18 inspectors general, who work within federal agencies but are charged with conducting independent audits and investigating misuse of funds, fraud, and abuse of power.

Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Caffari was among the few senior officials not affected by the firings.

His office visited the facility in January. Congress had commissioned them to inspect the migrant holding facilities. The report states that the "small metal enclosures" measured approximately 1,2 x 1,2 meters, or about 1,5 square meters, and that facility staff referred to them as "calming areas" where detainees could "de-escalate and be alone."

According to the report, there were also cages inside the building, each measuring approximately 1,7 square meters.

These cells are less than half the minimum area required to hold a single person in immigration detention facilities. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regulations, such facilities must be at least 3,4 square meters. By comparison, solitary confinement cells in federal prisons are approximately 7,8 square meters.

A detention center built by the administration of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz" by the state attorney general opened in July 2025 in the Everglades. It was created through state-federal cooperation under the 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement agencies to perform certain immigration enforcement functions normally under federal jurisdiction.

The enforcement was to be carried out to ensure compliance with federal immigration law and internal service regulations, and the enforcement actions themselves were to be coordinated and directed by ICE.

The Department of Homeland Security stated that it did not exercise operational management of the facility. The official response, signed by the department's deputy commissioner for management and the acting director of ICE, stated that the agency did not have a contract with the state of Florida to manage "Alligator Alcatraz." It emphasized that the 287(g) agreement does not grant federal authorities authority over the physical operation of detention centers.

The report also noted that ICE officers were present on the premises and that all detainees were given a handbook that referred to "Alligator Alcatraz" as a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, despite the lack of a contract for its day-to-day operations.

Ron DeSantis was asked about the report at his daily press conference and said he had not read it.

"I know the facility was inspected to ensure all standards were met," he replied. "The goal was not just to meet those standards, but to exceed them."

DeSantis and Donald Trump previously visited the center together, calling it an important element of the mass deportation program. However, the use of tent housing units and the detainees' vulnerability to extreme weather conditions immediately drew criticism from Democrats and human rights organizations, and led to a series of lawsuits.

The center closed in June. According to DeSantis, it was originally intended to be temporary: detainees were either deported or transferred to other federal facilities.

Amnesty International visited the facility in September 2025 and interviewed four detainees. In its report, the organization described "inhumane and unsanitary conditions," including overflowing toilets that spilled waste into sleeping areas, constant exposure to insects, and 24-hour lighting.

Some of those interviewed also spoke about a metal cage, which they called a “box.”

"People are placed in a 'box' with their hands cuffed and their feet secured to floor restraints," Amnesty's report states. "They are unable to sit or change position, and are forced to stand for hours in the heat with virtually no water and no protection from the sun, heat, or insects."

The organization concluded that using the "box" as a punishment is a form of torture.

ICE told the inspector general that detainees were handcuffed while being escorted to their cages, but not while inside.

According to documents reviewed by the inspector, from July 17, 2025 to January 18, 79 people were held in metal cages measuring 1,5 and 1,7 square meters.

The average time spent in the cage was just under an hour, with the maximum being almost two hours, according to a report based on the facility's internal records.

A sign outside one of the "holding cells" stated that it was designed to "provide a safe and secure space within the common area where detainees can reflect on their behavior, manage emotions, reduce stress, and self-manage their behavior."

According to internal documents, a detainee “may remain in the cell for no more than two hours and has the right to leave it at any time—at his own request or at the discretion of the staff.”

Center staff claimed that "the time spent in the small metal rooms is carefully monitored, and detainees are not locked in," although inspectors noted the presence of locking mechanisms. A photograph included with the report shows a lock on the outside of the door, similar to those used in public restrooms with coded access.

It is unclear whether similar conditions apply in other ICE facilities.

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State records released as part of the lawsuit show that the center has cost taxpayers more than $1 billion to operate. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already allocated $608 million to Florida for its operation, according to an inspector general report.

Internal government spreadsheets presented in court and reviewed by journalists show that the center's daily operating costs exceeded $1 million.

By comparison, the standard cost to house one person in an ICE detention facility is less than $200 per day, while at the Everglades facility, the cost exceeded $3000 per day.

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