Traffic violation lands Mexican with legal visa at Alligator Alcatraz as authorities remain silent and family despairs over possible deportation

A Mexican citizen with a valid tourist visa was arrested in Florida for a minor traffic violation and unexpectedly transferred to one of the country's most controversial immigration detention centers: the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" in the Everglades. The arrest of Carlos Martín González, 26, has sparked concern among his family, Mexican consular authorities, and human rights organizations, who denounce a series of irregularities in his arrest and custody.

From a minor infraction to a legal limbo

It all began on July 7, when González was stopped by local police while driving an unregistered vehicle. Although it wasn't a criminal offense or an immigration violation—Carlos had entered the United States legally with a tourist visa—local officers activated an immigration hold. This led to his being handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities, who immediately transferred him to a federal facility.

But his destination wasn't just any center. González was taken to the Krome North Processing Center, popularly known as "Alligator Alcatraz" due to its remote location in the South Florida swamps and the restrictive conditions faced by detainees. This center has been the subject of multiple complaints about isolation, communication difficulties with lawyers and family members, and its hostile environment.

Extreme isolation and no case number

Since his admission, the young Mexican has been held incommunicado, virtually incommunicado. He has only been able to make brief calls of less than five minutes, without regular access to a lawyer or family visits. He has also had no direct contact with representatives of the Mexican consulate, despite the Vienna Convention guaranteeing this right to all foreigners detained abroad.

The situation has worsened due to an administrative violation that prevents his family from initiating any legal proceedings in his defense. "They haven't assigned an immigration case number, which leaves us in limbo. We can't hire an immigration lawyer, we can't request bail, we can't do anything," his father, visibly distressed, explained in statements to Mexican media.

The Mexican Consulate in Orlando has confirmed that it is aware of the case and has requested consular access and details of the case file, but admits that the process is moving slowly. The family, for their part, fears that Carlos will be deported without even having had the opportunity to defend their case.

"We don't understand why they're treating him like an undocumented immigrant. He has a valid visa; he entered legally. Why lock him up in a center like that?" the father questioned, while a family lawyer stated that unless the detainee has a case number, he cannot be represented.

Controversy over the use of “Alligator Alcatraz”

The center where González is being held has been the center of controversy in recent years. Nicknamed the "Alcatraz of the Alligators" for its location in the Everglades, the site was promoted by Governor Ron DeSantis as part of his hardline immigration policy. Activists and organizations such as the ACLU and Human Rights Watch have denounced that these types of facilities operate under opaque conditions and employ practices that violate detainees' civil and procedural rights.

The state administration has defended its use under the guise of protecting border security and reducing the detention burden in traditional centers. However, the case of Carlos Martín highlights that even people with legal status can be absorbed into this system without safeguards.

Reactions and official silence

So far, neither the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE, nor the Florida governor's office have issued official statements on the case. The lack of response has raised alarms in migrant communities and diplomatic circles. Several Mexican organizations in the United States have begun mobilizing to call for González's release and demand greater transparency regarding his status.

The case also reopens the debate about cooperation between local police agencies and immigration authorities, especially in states with aggressive policies like Florida. Despite the fact that Carlos had no criminal record and was not violating his immigration status, he was detained and treated as if he were an undocumented immigrant. “His presence in the United States is completely legal,” other family members said.

A worrying precedent

The situation of Carlos Martín González not only reflects the legal and administrative loopholes in the U.S. immigration system, but also sets a serious precedent: the possibility that any foreigner with a legal visa could be deprived of liberty, held incommunicado, and prosecuted as if they were a criminal, for a simple administrative violation.

While his family in Mexico continues to call for his immediate release, the young man remains detained in a hostile environment, with no court date or legal representation. His story has become a symbol of the human consequences that can result from harsh immigration policies and opaque legal processes.

The international community, the Mexican consulate, and human rights organizations are now focusing on the "Alligator Alcatraz" and hope this case is not repeated with other foreign citizens legally residing in or visiting the United States.