Cuban reggaeton artist Leamsy La Figura—born Leamsy Isquierdo—has delivered a harrowing account of conditions inside Donald Trump‘s so-called Alligator Alcatraz, the controversial immigration detention center deep in the Florida Everglades.
Police arrested La Figura, a reggaeton musician born in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, in Miami-Dade following a violent incident involving a firearm during a dispute over a jet ski repossession. In a harrowing phone interview with CBS News, he shared disturbing details about the facility.
Shocking testimony from inside: “No water to take a bath”
In a phone call recorded by CBS News, La Figura said, “I am Leamsy La Figura. We’ve been here at Alcatraz since Friday. There’s over 400 people here. There’s no water to take a bath, it’s been four days since I’ve taken a bath,” he said.
He went on to recount the meal situation. “They only brought a meal once a day, and it had maggots. They never ‘take off’ the lights for 24 hours. The mosquitoes are as big as elephants,” he said.
These statements echo reports from other detainees of inhumane treatment at the facility.
Who is Leamsy La Figura, and why was he arrested?
La Figura, born in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, is a reggaeton musician. His arrest in Miami-Dade stemmed from a violent incident involving a firearm during a dispute over a jet ski repossession. Authorities charged La Figura with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and simple assault. His bail was set at $6,000.
Although eligible for bail, an ICE hold was placed, preventing his release pending immigration proceedings.
According to reporting by NBC Miami, La Figura’s girlfriend confirmed he holds permanent residency in the United States, likely a green card. That status becomes vulnerable once criminal charges are involved.
ICE typically initiates removal proceedings when a lawful permanent resident is convicted of or charged with aggravated crimes, as appears to be the case after La Figura’s arrest on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and simple assault.
What is “Alligator Alcatraz”?
Nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” Trump’s facility, where La Figura is housed, is a newly constructed immigration detention center located roughly 50 miles west of Miami, built on the grounds of a rarely used municipal airport in the Everglades. Funded through emergency state and federal allocations, the site was designed to hold and process criminal immigration detainees, with a reported capacity of up to 5,000 beds. La Figura was among the first group of detainees transferred there on July 3, 2025.
Controversy over emergency construction
The rushed construction of the facility under Florida’s emergency powers has ignited a wave of legal, environmental, and human rights concerns. Critics have questioned the legality of repurposing Everglades land for detention use and condemned the lack of transparency surrounding conditions inside the camp. Despite mounting allegations from detainees, state officials—including Florida’s Department of Emergency Management (FDEM)—have remained largely silent.
Spotlight on immigration detention
La Figura’s testimony brings broader debate to the forefront: What are the rights of immigration detainees? How far can emergency measures stretch? And what legal protections apply in such improvised settings? His vivid account has fueled public scrutiny of “Alligator Alcatraz,” among other controversial detention policies.
Leamsy La Figura’s firsthand testimony shines a stark light on the conditions at Alligator Alcatraz—no bathing water for days, meals infested with maggots, round‑the‑clock lighting, swarming mosquitoes, and infringed rights. These allegations demand an urgent investigation. For a system meant to uphold the rule of law and basic dignity, these reports underscore the need for transparency and accountability.
Published: Jul 8, 2025 03:02 pm