But if an infectious disease like, say, COVID-19, is spreading among detainees at the remote site, the state refuses to say so.
On August 7, attorneys Eric Lee and Chris Godshall-Bennet issued a statement on behalf of their client, 38-year-old Venezuelan Luis Manuel Rivas Velásquez, who they say recently suffered a "serious health emergency" while being held at the hastily constructed detention center. According to the statement, Rivas Velasquez, who was previously in good health, collapsed while sitting inside a tent at the facility and "found himself unable to breathe."
He was transported to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a respiratory infection, the lawyers say. The statement notes that relatives of other detainees have reported that illness is currently "rampant" at the facility.
"We are all sick in this jail. Some are worse than others, it is an emergency," Rivas Velasquez said, according to the statement. "They are treating us like dogs, like animals."DHS & State of Florida are covering up what appears to be a serious disease outbreak at Alligator Alcatraz. A young, healthy Venezuelan detainee fell sick & was denied medical attention. His family feared he was dead. Many others reportedly sick. pic.twitter.com/wPWeiH4uPK
— Eric Lee (@EricLeeAtty) August 7, 2025
This comes just days after a former corrections officer at Alligator Alcatraz told NBC6 said she contracted COVID-19 about a week into the job. She was fired shortly after for "altering medical paperwork" submitted to GardaWorld, a private security company contracted to staff guards at the detention center. It also comes amid a nationwide rise in COVID-19 cases, with numbers climbing in South Florida as well.
So: is a contagious illness spreading at Alligator Alcatraz? And might it be COVID-19?
Good luck getting a straight answer.
You might be wondering: Why isn't the Florida Department of Health (FDH) in charge of any potential COVID infections at the facility?
But, like much about Alligator Alcatraz, who's actually in charge isn't who you'd expect.
On July 14, New Times contacted the FDH to ask about possible COVID cases at Alligator Alcatraz. We called the state office six times and followed up via email approximately six times. On the sixth call, we got in touch with someone in IT who said that they would look into the matter. Then, on July 22, we finally received an email from FDH press secretary Isabel Kilman: "The Florida Division of Emergency Management is handling all media inquiries related to Alligator Alcatraz."
New Times first contacted FDEM spokesperson Stephanie Hartman via email on July 22 to ask about potential COVID infections at Alligator Alcatraz. After receiving no reply, we followed up the next day — and, as we've done multiple times before, asked for a phone number to reach her (Hartman's email signature includes no contact number).
Again, we received no response.
On August 8, we emailed Hartman again, asking whether she could comment on reports that detainees were being denied medical care "as an outbreak of a serious illness spreads through the facility," and whether she could answer our prior COVID-related questions.
She promptly responded: "These claims are false. Detainees have access to a 24/7, fully staffed medical facility with a pharmacy on site."
However, she didn't respond to New Times' question about whether COVID is spreading in the facility. Nor has she replied to several follow-up emails.
All this comes as COVID-19 infections appear to be on the rise.
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infections appear to be surging nationwide. As of August 5, infections are estimated to be "growing or likely growing" in 45 of 50 states.
State health data shows cases across Miami-Dade and Broward counties have increased by more than 50 percent from June to July.
"It’s spreading like any other cold or flu," Memorial Regional Hospital Medical Director Dr. Adam Rubin told Local 10 News.
