Under President Donald Trump, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is making one thing clear: America is fighting back against criminal illegal aliens.
The DHS confirmed that Alligator Alcatraz, the now infamous high-security detention facility for some of the worst offenders, will remain open and operational. This news comes despite activist judges attempting to shut down the facility, and a spattering of media outlets circulating “hoaxes” about inhumane conditions.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin spoke on the importance of keeping these dangerous criminals off the streets of America, describing a list of detainees that includes convicted murderers, serial sexual predators, drug traffickers, and gun smugglers. All of whom, the DHS claims, pose an undeniable threat to America if released.
“Despite repeated hoaxes peddled by the media and activist judges, Alligator Alcatraz is still open and housing some of the ‘worst of the worst’ criminal illegal aliens including murderers, pedophiles, weapon traffickers, and drug dealers until they are swiftly removed from our country,” McLaughlin wrote.
Among those detained are men from Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, Colombia, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic, with convictions ranging from second-degree murder and attempted homicide to sex crimes against children, aggravated assault, robbery, and drug trafficking.
For months, left-leaning media outlets have portrayed Alligator Alcatraz as a human rights issue, pushing around claims about inhumane conditions at the facility. DHS leaders insist, however, that the truth is far from the narrative being pushed.
DHS has reaffirmed that the facility meets federal detention standards.
McLaughlin dismissed false reports of deaths, incinerator misuse, hunger strikes, disease outbreaks, and unsanitary conditions, saying that all detainees receive proper medical care, clean facilities, and access to attorneys.
“Nearly every single day, my office responds to media questions on FALSE allegations about Alligator Alcatraz. The media is clearly desperate for these allegations of inhumane conditions at this facility to be true,” McLaughlin wrote in a statement published in August.
The real crisis, DHS officials argue, is the danger posed to Americans if these offenders are allowed back onto the streets.
McLaughlin and other DHS leaders have doubled down on expanding their detention capacity through partnerships with other states across the country.
Alongside Alligator Alcatraz, other facilities such as the “Louisiana Lock-up,” the “Speedway Slammer”, and the “Cornhusker Clink” are already in operation, empowering America’s ability to keep violent offenders locked up until they can be deported.
“Fire up the deportation planes,” McLaughlin added.