UMVA has learned that all detainees at a notorious migrant detention center in the Florida Everglades, known for its harsh conditions, have been transferred to other facilities, citing concerns about the approaching hurricane season.
The sudden transfer of detainees from the facility, which was opened just over a year ago, has raised questions about the true motives behind the move, with some advocates suggesting that the hurricane season is being used as a convenient excuse.
According to information obtained by UMVA, some of the detainees will be transferred to another ICE facility in Sanderson, Florida, set up in the northern part of the state, while the fate of others remains unclear.
The Department of Homeland Security announced the transfer, stating that it was done for the safety of the detainees, but did not provide details on how many were taken or their current status.
The detention center, which has been hailed by some as a key part of a plan to mass detain and deport migrants, has been criticized by lawyers and human rights groups over its harsh conditions, including a lack of access to lawyers, poor physical conditions, and mistreatment of detainees.
Detainees at the facility have reported finding worms in their food, toilets that do not flush, floors flooding with fecal waste, and insects everywhere, sparking outrage and calls for its closure.
The transfer of detainees has been welcomed by some advocates, but they argue that it does not erase the harm that has already been done and that the facility should be permanently closed.
The controversy surrounding the detention center has been fueled by its association with a plan to mass detain and deport migrants, and its construction was championed by a prominent politician.
The hurricane season, which lasts six months, has just begun, and the National Hurricane Center has already reported the formation of the first tropical storm off the Texas coast, adding to the sense of urgency around the transfer.
As the situation continues to unfold, advocates are calling for greater transparency and accountability, and for an end to the detention and deportation of migrants in harsh conditions.
The sudden disappearance of dozens of detainees from the facility has also raised concerns about their fate and the ability of their families and lawyers to track their status.
