A Cuban migrant detained at the Alligator Alcatraz detention center in Florida reported physical abuse, verbal mistreatment, and inhumane conditions within the facility.
His statements were shared by the journalist Javier Díaz on his Facebook profile, where the case has generated outrage among the Cuban community in the United States.
"Here, everyone treats you like garbage; they don't treat you with respect," said the man, who recounted being beaten and dragged on the floor after refusing to eat a spoiled dish. "They threw me to the ground, handcuffed my feet, and left me lying there crying out of helplessness, with cramps, and without having done anything," he claimed.
The Cuban also reported that the officials at the facility prevent detainees from drinking water during meals, even though the refrigerators are full. “They don’t even let you grab a bottle of water,” he stated, also noting that the guards do not wear visible identification, making it difficult to file formal complaints.
According to their testimony, the infrastructure conditions of the center are hazardous and could lead to a tragedy.
"We are more than 400 people here under a tarp, without fire safety systems, with electrical wires hanging and extension cords lying on the floor, even near where one takes a shower," he warned.
The detainee submitted a written complaint, but to date, he has not received a response. He also mentioned that other migrants, many of whom have no criminal record, are experiencing similar situations.
"They treat us like murderers, but we are people who have complied with the law, we work and pay taxes," he stated.
"In the state prison, I was treated better, and that's saying something since you are actually imprisoned there. Here, where we are supposedly 'detained', we have no rights,” lamented the migrant, who called for authorities to intervene to either shut down the center or improve the conditions for those held inside.
In recent months, human rights organizations have reported irregularities in several immigration detention centers in the United States, particularly in Florida and Texas, where cases of overcrowding, lack of medical care, and mistreatment of detainees have been reported.
So far, the authorities at the Alligator Alcatraz center have not made any public statements regarding the ongoing complaints.
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