A report from the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general has described the conditions inside the Florida immigration detention facility known as "Alligator Alcatraz," which has since been closed.

The watchdog found that the facility used small metal cages, which the report likened in size to phone booths, that were labeled "calming areas." The cages were among a range of conditions the inspector general examined in its review of how detainees were held at the site.

The facility, which drew attention for its nickname, was built to hold people detained on immigration grounds.

The inspector general's report documented the use of the enclosures and other aspects of the detention environment. The findings arrive after the facility ceased operating.

The report is part of the oversight role played by the DHS office of inspector general, which conducts independent reviews of the department's operations and programs. Its examinations of detention facilities typically address conditions of confinement, treatment of those held, and compliance with applicable standards.

The enclosures were described as small, with the space compared to phone booths. The "calming areas" designation applied to those cages was among the specific details highlighted in the findings.

References

1. 1.DHS Office of Inspector General report — conditions at the facility, use of cages labeled 'calming areas,' comparison to phone booths
2. 2.News reporting on 'Alligator Alcatraz' — facility nickname, purpose, and closure