Consul Warns Mexicans Must Take ‘Extreme Precautions’ in Florida as ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Leads to Diplomatic Tensions

Citing conditions and legal issues at Governor Ron DeSantis’ “Alligator Alcatraz” facility in the Everglades, a Mexican diplomat issued a stark warning to anyone from his country thinking of traveling to Florida.

“They should take precautions or not come to Florida,” Juan Sabines, the consul of Mexico in Orlando, told TPM in a conversation this week. “You should take extreme precautions when you come to Florida.” 

Speaking in Spanish during an interview Tuesday evening, Sabines said Mexicans visiting the state need to take care with “basic things” such as ensuring they are renting cars from legitimate locations, driving with a license, and carrying documentation at all times. Sabines’ concerns were based on a case he has been involved in where two brothers were brought to the detention camp. Mexican officials have said both brothers had valid documentation. 

“They will detain you here for anything,” Sabines said.

The concerns about Mexican detainees in “Alligator Alcatraz” have gone beyond the case of the Gonzalez brothers. On Tuesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed a report from Human Rights Watch about “abusive practices” at migrant detention centers in Florida during her daily press conference. Sheinbaum said she believed 14 Mexican citizens were being held in these detention centers. She further said Mexican officials are reviewing whether “human rights violations” had been committed at “Alligator Alcatraz” and indicated her government would consider filing complaints if this was found to have occurred. 

“What we are insisting is that, when people are detained, they are repatriated immediately,” Sheinbaum said. 

“Mexico is a business partner with Florida,” Sabines said, adding, “We buy many things from Florida; milk, cream, car parts, medicines. We are a good customer for Florida and they are not treating us like business partners or like family.” 

For his part, Sabines said Mexican consular officials regularly met with DeSantis’ predecessor, now-U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R). However, he said that situation changed after DeSantis first assumed office in 2019. 

“We have tried to talk to the governor many times,” Sabines said. “Before, yes, we met with Governor Scott numerous times, but with Governor DeSantis, we haven’t been able to do it.”

Throughout the conversation, Sabines stressed that he believes the risk to immigrants and Mexicans in Florida is beyond anything elsewhere in the U.S. He also pointed to the fact DeSantis has discussed plans for a second detention facility near Jacksonville. Overall, Sabines said Mexican officials are “very worried” about the situation. 

“I am not complaining about the U.S. I respect the initiatives of President Trump. He has every right to have made the decisions he has. The people voted for him, right? I understand it,” Sabines said. “But here, it’s been excessive. … This prison is something we never would have expected.”