A Department of Homeland Security inspector general report released Monday criticized the use of small metal enclosures at Florida's now-closed Alligator Alcatraz detention center, describing the practice as unprecedented in Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities.

Inspectors found that staff placed 79 detainees in the roughly 18-square-foot enclosures between July 2025 and January 2026 for periods ranging from several minutes to nearly two hours. Facility personnel referred to the spaces as "calming areas" for de-escalation, though records showed at least one use as discipline for failing to follow commands. The enclosures fell short of ICE's minimum 37-square-foot standard for single-person spaces.

The report also highlighted broader compliance issues at the temporary site in the Florida Everglades. Detainees received only about 28 square feet of living space each in housing units, well below the 75-square-foot requirement, and showers were limited to three times per week with reports of insect infestations. The facility operated from July 2025 until its closure in June 2026.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis established the center as a state-run operation supporting federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. It processed thousands of illegal immigrants, many with criminal records, contributing to over 21,000 deportations before shutdown due to high operating costs exceeding $1 million daily and approaching hurricane season.

The inspector general noted the enclosures presented health and safety risks and did not align with standards for humane treatment. DHS officials responded that day-to-day operations fell under state authority at the Florida Soft-Sided Facility. The temporary setup addressed capacity gaps during a period of heightened border enforcement priorities.

Critics have seized on the findings to question the facility's conditions, while supporters point to its role in removing criminal aliens from communities. The center's closure shifted detainees to other locations as federal resources expanded.