South Florida man released from "Alligator Alcatraz" describes conditions inside

Local News South Florida man released from ICE custody describes conditions inside "Alligator Alcatraz" By Ivan Taylor Ivan Taylor Ivan Taylor is a bilingual, award-winning TV journalist who is a seasoned reporter with extensive live and breaking news experience from local and national news outlets. Read Full Bio Ivan Taylor Updated on: April 17, 2026 / 11:32 PM EDT / CBS Miami Add CBS News on Google A South Florida man who spent months in federal immigration custody is speaking publicly for the first time after his release from a controversial detention facility widely known as "Alligator Alcatraz."45-year-old Maikel Rojas was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in October 2025 after showing up for a routine, court-mandated annual check-in at the Miramar immigration office. Instead of returning home, he was taken into custody and later transferred to the remote detention site.For nearly five months, Rojas remained detained — until a phone call in March changed everything."My husband called me, and he said he's going to Krome for release," said his wife, Roxana Torres.Torres says she had been protesting outside the facility with other families of detainees when she received the call. She immediately rushed to the Krome Detention Center, where the couple was reunited after months apart.Now back home, Rojas describes what he calls inhumane conditions inside the facility.He claims detainees were not allowed visits from loved ones and had limited or no access to legal representation. He also described unsanitary and overcrowded living conditions. "We have no privacy... there are cameras over the toilets," Rojas said in Spanish. "Thirty-two people share three toilets, so you can imagine the smell."Rojas also complained about the food, alleging that meals often arrived spoiled after sitting for hours in the heat. He says he lost 45 pounds during his four-and-a-half months at the facility.His wife says his release was due to habeas corpusHis wife cre...