The narrative is that only violent criminals are being sent to Alligator Alcatraz,” attorney Phillip Arroyo said. “We don’t know why [he was sent there] because he has legal status.”

The conservation photographer was more than 15 miles from the state’s newly built immigrant detention center, dubbed Alligator Alcatraz. But just before 10 p.m. on July 1, he could see the site’s glow with his naked eye.

Detainees are telling their families about what it’s like to live in cells inside heavy-duty tents erected on an airstrip in Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida.

A Cuban musician who says he's a lawful permanent resident detailed inhumane and unsanitary conditions at "Alligator Alcatraz."

It’s not a detention facility that is going to be up to par with the requirements necessarily, so yeah, it’s horrible,” his attorney said. “Never in a million years did I think our client would

GardaWorld, an international security company whose U.S. headquarters are in Boca Raton, is one of several contractors hired to do work for Alligator Alcatraz. Anyone can view a sampling of recent comments, but you must be a Times subscriber to contribute. Log in above or subscribe here.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has previously said there would be no impacts to vegetation and there would be no paving or permanent construction at the Everglades site.