A Cuban man, who arrived in the United States at the tender age of 11 and spent 47 years living in the country, has reported being confined for over 15 hours in a cramped metal cage at the Alligator Alcatraz immigration facility in Florida. This occurred after he began praying aloud during another detainee's epileptic seizure.
Raúl Suárez shared his experience with Noticias Telemundo, explaining that the incident took place during the intake process at the center.
"A young man had a seizure shortly after they had us shackled to the floor on a bench for processing. Everyone started shouting, and I just watched. So, I decided to start praying," he recounted.
According to Suárez, following the arrival of an ambulance, officers questioned him about his nationality.
"I told them, 'Cuba.' As soon as I said that, they picked me up and dragged me to that little cage," he claimed.
The Cuban man stated that he was forcibly taken to the metal structure. "They took me there while I was handcuffed. They removed the restraints and threw me inside, pushing me against the mesh, and I fell to the ground," Suárez explained.
Suárez described the area as so confined that lying down was impossible.
"It was horrific. I was there and couldn't even lie down on the floor. There was no room. You can stand, but you can't lie down," he recalled.
He stated that he remained locked up from around 1 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following morning, without food and exposed to mosquitoes and snakes.
His account gains significance after the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) inspector general released a report confirming the use of such cages at Alligator Alcatraz.
The investigation revealed that at least 79 detainees were held in these structures between July 2025 and January 2026, describing the practice as "highly unconventional."
The outdoor cages measured only 16 square feet, while the indoor ones were 18 square feet, compared to the 37 square feet stipulated in ICE standards for an individual cell.
Records examined by investigators showed detentions lasting up to two hours. Suárez’s account, if verified, would suggest significantly longer confinement periods.
Another Cuban interviewed by Telemundo, Reinaldo López, also criticized the conditions he endured during nearly three months in the facility.
"Those cells really shouldn't have housed anyone. They're like chicken wire," he asserted. "What we experienced inside was hell."
López described mesh enclosures covered with tarps, where up to 72 people were held.
Both Cubans also reported insufficient food, limited meal times, and challenges in communicating with family and accessing legal assistance.
López, who had lived in the U.S. for 36 years, was detained when he attended an immigration appointment. According to Telemundo, he suffers from chronic kidney disease and requires surgery. Suárez needs an operation for a hernia and is receiving psychiatric care following his custody ordeal.
Both men were deported to Mexico and are currently residing in a shelter in Sonora with humanitarian visas as they attempt to regularize their status.
Conditions at Alligator Alcatraz have previously been condemned by human rights organizations. Amnesty International labeled the use of cages as a form of torture in December 2025, sparking inquiries in the U.S. Congress.
For Suárez, who spent almost his entire life in the United States before being deported to Mexico, the experience remains difficult to comprehend.
"Everything happened so quickly. I'm still processing it," he concluded.
Allegations regarding the state of immigration detention centers like Alligator Alcatraz are part of a larger picture that we are closely monitoring. Stay informed in our U.S. Immigration section.
Understanding the Conditions at Alligator Alcatraz Detention Center
What led to Raúl Suárez's confinement at Alligator Alcatraz?
Raúl Suárez was confined after he began praying aloud during another detainee’s epileptic seizure, which drew the attention of the facility's officers.
How does the size of the cages at Alligator Alcatraz compare to ICE standards?
The outdoor cages at Alligator Alcatraz measure 16 square feet and the indoor ones 18 square feet, whereas ICE standards require 37 square feet for an individual cell.