Mexican Tourist Ends Up in ‘Alligator Alcatraz’; Mexico Seeks Repatriation of 14 Nationals

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Martin Gonzalez, father of Carlos, the Mexican tourist visa holder who was arrested.

In the United States, at least 14 Mexican nationals are being held in a migrant detention center known as the “Alcatraz of the Alligators.” As a result, the Mexican government is actively working to have them repatriated “immediately,” President Claudia Sheinbaum stated.

According to available information, Carlos Martín González and his brother were detained on July 7, 2025, during a traffic stop. Police noticed that the vehicle they were traveling in lacked valid registration—an infraction that typically warrants only a minor citation. Despite this, the officers placed them on immigration hold and transferred them to the detention center referred to as Alligator Alcatraz.

According to a report by Consul Juan Sabines, the immigration status of the two men appears to be in order. Carlos was vacationing in the U.S. with a valid tourist visa following the death of his mother. Meanwhile, his brother is married to a U.S. citizen.

During her morning press conference, President Sheinbaum addressed the situation:

“We know there are some Mexicans in this detention center, and we continue to insist that they be deported immediately. A diplomatic note was sent, and both the Mexican Embassy in the United States and our consulates are working to ensure they are returned to Mexico as soon as possible.”

The report “You Feel Like Your Life Is Over”—conducted by Human Rights Watch in three Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in Miami, Florida—details numerous human rights violations committed against migrants in these detention centers. In one testimony, a man stated he was forced to eat with his hands handcuffed: “We had to bend over and eat from the chairs with our mouths, like dogs.”

In response, President Sheinbaum Pardo stated that Mexican consulates are reviewing whether there have been any human rights violations. If such violations are confirmed, she explained, “the appropriate protocol is being followed, but what we have requested is that they be deported immediately so we can proceed with their repatriation.”

The president also recalled that when migrants were previously sent to Guantanamo, “we sent a diplomatic note, and the moment this detention center [Alcatraz of the Alligators] was made public, we issued another diplomatic note insisting that any Mexican held there be deported immediately and not be subjected to time in this facility.”