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The Cuban-American federal judge Barbara Lagoa decided to keep the controversial immigrant detention center “Alligator Alcatraz”, located in northern Florida, open despite multiple reports of abuse, overcrowding, and violations of human rights.
The ruling, issued on Thursday, has sparked strong criticism and accusations of conflict of interest due to its ties to Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, reported Univisión.
The detention center, built on the grounds of an old rural airport, was inaugurated in the summer of 2025 with state funds and in coordination with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
Since its opening, it has been pointed out by human rights organizations and immigrant advocates due to its extreme conditions, lack of access to lawyers, and alleged mistreatment of detainees.
Lagoa, appointed by former President Donald Trump to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, denied the motion for closure filed by a group of immigrant advocates, arguing that “the State of Florida is acting within its authority and there is not enough evidence of a systemic violation of constitutional rights”.
The ruling has reignited the debate in Florida over the political and family ties of Lagoa with the state administration.
The magistrate is married to attorney Paul Huck, founding partner of the firm Lawson Huck Gonzalez, regarded as one of the law offices closest to Governor Ron DeSantis.
Since its establishment in 2023, the firm has received more than 10 million dollars in state contracts.
The office has represented Governor DeSantis in high-profile cases, such as the lawsuit against the Target chain for its Pride 2023 campaign and the selection process for the new chancellor of the University of West Florida, amid the governor's conservative offensive against corporations and academic institutions accused of "progressive ideological indoctrination."
Although it has not been proven that Huck or his firm have direct involvement in the case of Alligator Alcatraz, Democratic leaders and pro-immigrant organizations have condemned the appearance of bias of the judge.
Judge Barbara Lagoa is clearly conflicted due to her marriage to Paul Huck, and she has a personal interest in ensuring that her office maintains a favorable relationship with the state of Florida, stated The Guardian Tessa Petit, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition.
The detention center, located in Liberty County, has been the subject of several reports documenting extreme temperatures, overcrowding, lack of adequate medical care, and reprisals against detainees who protest the conditions.
ICE has denied the accusations and asserts that the facility "meets federal detention standards".
However, human rights groups indicate that detainees remain for weeks or months without access to lawyers, hearings, or communication with family members, and they report an increase in respiratory illnesses due to the conditions of confinement.
Alligator Alcatraz is a legally sanctioned hell, stated immigration attorney Juan Carlos Ruiz from the organization Faith in Action.
Daughter of Cuban exiles, Barbara Lagoa was born in Miami and has built a judicial career linked to the Republican Party and the Cuban-American political power in South Florida.
In 2020, her name was considered by Donald Trump for a possible nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States, following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Her career includes a notable involvement in the case of the child Elián González in the year 2000, which positioned her as a prominent figure in the legal and political sphere of the Cuban exile community.
Since then, she has maintained a close relationship with Florida's conservative apparatus and with DeSantis himself, who has publicly praised her for her "commitment to the law and traditional values."
The case of Alligator Alcatraz has once again put Lagoa at the center of controversy, in a context where Florida's immigration policies have become stricter and the arrests of undocumented individuals have surged.
Civil organizations warn that their decision could set a dangerous precedent regarding the expansion of private detention centers in the state.
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