Gator Alcatraz Ordered to Grant Attorney Access to Clients
Federal judge rules Florida's controversial immigration jail must provide detainees confidential legal calls and unannounced attorney visits.
In a ruling that aims to protect the legal rights of detainees, a federal judge has ordered officials at Florida's notorious Alligator Alcatraz immigration jail to grant attorneys better access to their clients.
The decision by Judge Sheri Polster Chappell mandates that the facility provide confidential, private, and free outgoing legal telephone calls for detainees. Attorneys will also be allowed to visit their clients without advance scheduling, bypassing the facility's previous requirement.
The Alligator Alcatraz, as it's informally known, is a state-run immigration detention center that has long faced allegations of poor conditions and restricted access for legal counsel. This ruling represents a significant win for advocates seeking to uphold the due process rights of those held at the facility.
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Source: The Guardian
