Mexico City, Mexico — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday that 14 Mexican nationals are currently being held in the controversial immigration detention center in Orlando, Florida, infamously nicknamed Alligator Alcatraz.
Sheinbaum announced that the Mexican Embassy has begun inquiries into the condition of the detainees and has issued diplomatic notes demanding their immediate repatriation.
“All necessary measures are being taken to ensure their prompt return. A diplomatic note has been sent, and both the Mexican Embassy in the United States and our consulates are pressing for their swift reintegration into Mexico,” Sheinbaum said.
A controversial symbol of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration, the Orlando facility is said to have an operating cost in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually. The high-security center is expected to hold up to 5,000 immigrants and has drawn heavy criticism from human rights organizations for what they describe as inhumane and dehumanizing conditions.
President Sheinbaum has pledged to stand by all Mexican nationals affected by Trump-era immigration policies, making full use of Mexico’s embassy and consular network throughout the United States.
Juan Sabin Guerrero, Mexico’s Consul in Orlando, has been the first diplomatic official to directly assist the detained individuals. On social media, Guerrero shared the case of two brothers who were arrested by local authorities in Orlando and transferred to the so-called Alligator Alcatraz.
“During a call, their lawyer warned us of possible civil rights violations, as the prison where they’re being held is not operated by the federal government (ICE), but by the state of Florida. As a result, they have not yet been assigned an alien number or a case file, which prevents them from accessing proper legal defense or a fair trial,” Guerrero posted on his X account.
The two detainees, Carlos and Alejandro González, were allegedly pulled over by a patrol car for having tinted windows. Carlos, the younger brother, was visiting the U.S. on a tourist visa, while Alejandro is married to a U.S. citizen.
The apparently arbitrary nature of their arrest—particularly the detention of a tourist with valid documentation—has raised serious concerns and prompted the Mexican consulate to consider issuing a travel advisory for Mexican citizens planning to visit Orlando.
“Given the circumstances, we are demanding immediate access for their attorney. Based on the conditions observed, I will recommend that Mexican authorities consider issuing a travel warning for Mexican tourists visiting Orlando,” Guerrero added.
Featured picture taken from: Mexican government webpage
