An Italian-Argentine national is among those held at a Florida migrant detention facility nicknamed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ due to its location within swamps inhabited by alligators and pythons. The Tampa Bay Times reports this detail, publishing a series of phone interviews with seven detainees and relatives who allege inhumane conditions.
Among them, according to the newspaper, is 63-year-old Fernando Eduardo Artese, a dual Italian and Argentine citizen. He was arrested in late June while attempting to leave the United States to return to Argentina.
“This is a concentration camp. They treat us like criminals; it’s an exercise in humiliation,” Artese told the Tampa Bay Times. “We are all workers and people fighting for our families.”
Artese entered the US from Spain nearly ten years ago using his Italian passport under the 90-day visa waiver program, subsequently overstaying. His family joined him in 2018: his 62-year-old wife holds a student visa, and his 19-year-old daughter arrived legally.
When police stopped Artese on June 25th, they discovered an outstanding arrest warrant for his failure to appear at a March court hearing related to a ticket for driving without a license. His family states he missed the hearing precisely because he feared being detained. Six days after his arrest, he was transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and taken to the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ facility.