Illegal Aliens Launch Hunger Strike, Demand Respect in Florida [WATCH]

A group of detained illegal aliens held at the South Florida Reception Center, colloquially referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz,” have entered the tenth day of a hunger strike, protesting conditions at the facility while facing imminent deportation.

The detainees began refusing meals last week, citing complaints over sanitation, lighting, and food quality.

Officials have confirmed that deportation flights for individuals at the facility are now underway, even as legal disputes surrounding the treatment of detainees continue to escalate.

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Among those participating in the hunger strike is Pedro Hernández, a Cuban national who entered the United States in 2006.

He was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in July 2025 during a routine check-in in Miramar, Florida.

Hernández, who has previously served time in prison, was briefly hospitalized during the protest but has resumed the strike, according to his family and reports from inside the facility.

In a recorded call from detention, Hernández said, “We’ve all been hungry since Tuesday. I’m not going to eat another plate of food until they show us respect.”

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His wife, Daimarys Hernández, spoke to NBC6 about his situation, stating, “My husband was in prison. We make mistakes, but we learn from them and fix things.”

Additional allegations have surfaced from other detainees who describe conditions inside the facility as substandard. Leamsy “La Figura” Izquierdo, a Cuban artist who was previously held at the facility, told CBS News, “They only brought a meal once a day and it has maggots. They never take off the lights for 24 hours. The mosquitoes are as big as elephants.”

The South Florida Reception Center, located in a remote and humid region of the state, is the subject of multiple lawsuits on civil rights and environmental grounds.

Attorneys representing detainees claim they have been blocked from proper access to their clients and assert that basic constitutional protections are being undermined.

Earlier this month, local news outlets reported that only one-third of the detainees held at the facility had previous criminal convictions, despite prior characterizations by officials suggesting the center primarily housed individuals with serious criminal backgrounds.

State officials have denied the accusations regarding the facility’s condition.

“The reporting on the conditions in the facility is completely false. The facility meets all required standards and is in good working order,” said Stephanie Hartman, director of communications for the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

According to the agency, the facility complies with all state and federal regulations for housing detainees and is equipped to manage medical, dietary, and hygiene needs in accordance with established guidelines.

The situation has drawn attention from advocacy organizations and legal observers, with several parties filing motions in court to obtain improved access to detainees and to halt deportations pending the outcome of those filings.