Congresswoman Jayapal Condemns DHS Detention Conditions as 'Torture' Following Inspector General Report
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) has strongly criticized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following a new report from the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) detailing inhumane conditions at the now-shuttered Florida Soft-Sided Facility (FSSF), also known as 'Alligator Alcatraz.' The OIG report confirmed that detainees were confined in small metal enclosures, some as small as 18 square feet, for periods ranging from minutes to nearly two hours. These detainees were subjected to high temperatures and mosquito swarms while shackled. The report also found that the facility failed to meet standards for living space, medical care, food service, personal hygiene, and recreation, with detainees having significantly less space than the DHS benchmark and limited access to clean water and showers. Jayapal stated on social media that these conditions were 'nothing short of torture' and called for DHS to be dismantled and held accountable.