Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed Tuesday that 14 Mexican nationals are being held at the newly opened migrant detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” in Florida, and said her government is pushing for their immediate repatriation.
During her morning press conference, Sheinbaum said that diplomatic steps are underway to secure the return of the detainees.
“There are 14 Mexicans interned, and all necessary actions are being taken to repatriate them immediately,” she stated.
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Sheinbaum added that the Mexican government has sent a formal diplomatic note to the United States and is coordinating efforts through its consulates to ensure the swift return of its citizens.
“We sent another diplomatic note the moment this detention center was made public, requesting that any Mexican held there be deported immediately,” she emphasized.
Human Rights concerns under review
The president also mentioned that Mexican consulates are assessing whether there are human rights violations occurring at the site.
If any are found, she said, protocols will be triggered to demand expedited deportations.
“Our consulates are reviewing if there are any violations, and if so, the appropriate legal processes will be followed,” she explained.
The detention center, built in just two weeks on an abandoned airstrip west of Miami, began operating in early July.
US authorities say the facility could hold up to 5,000 migrants as part of United States President Donald Trump’s renewed crackdown on undocumented immigration.
Symbolism and controversy surround ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
Nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” the center references both the infamous San Francisco prison that Trump has announced plans to reopen and the presence of alligators surrounding the facility, said by officials to serve as a natural deterrent to escape.
President Sheinbaum has repeatedly denounced the criminalization of migrants and urged US authorities to address the root causes of migration instead of resorting to punitive measures.
Since Trump’s return to the White House on Jan. 20, the Mexican government reports that 73,533 people have been deported to Mexico, of which 67,008 are Mexican nationals.
Information EFE