Officials at Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ must give attorneys access to clients, judge rules

Federal judge Sheri Polster Chappell on Friday ordered officials at Florida's state-run immigration detention facility, known as "Alligator Alcatraz," to grant attorneys substantially greater access to their detained clients. The ruling requires the facility to provide detainees with free, private, and unmonitored legal phone calls and allow lawyers to conduct unannounced visits, eliminating the previous requirement that attorneys pre-schedule appointments. The decision addresses a civil rights complaint involving conditions and due process concerns at the immigration jail. Access to counsel has become a focal point in immigration detention litigation, as limited attorney contact can impede legal representation for immigrants facing deportation. The order is enforceable immediately against facility officials.