Trump officials deflect from "Alligator Alcatraz" scrutiny by pointing fingers at Biden

Border czar Tom Homan and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Sunday brushed off humanitarian concerns about a new immigration detention center in Florida, opting instead to criticize conditions under the Biden administration. The big picture: There have been reports of negligence, inhumane treatment and limited access to legal counsel in the U.S. immigration detention system for years, but the Trump administration has embraced once-fringe tactics, setting off alarms for immigration rights advocates. Emblematic of that spectacle is a new facility in the Florida Everglades dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," where detainees have reported inhumane and unclean conditions.Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), one of a group of Democratic lawmakers who were given a reportedly limited tour of the site Saturday, condemned the lack of privacy in the facility and said detainees were "living in cages." State officials have denied allegations of inhumane conditions. Driving the news: Homan, who noted he has not visited the facility yet, said on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday that he doubts reports from lawmakers were "factual," pointing to what he described as high ICE detention standards.He argued some lawmakers who are now criticizing Trump's approach didn't do the same with the Biden administration over conditions migrants faced during the former president's term."Silence, silence," he said. "Because they're complicit. Because they didn't take the administration on and ask them to secure the border."Zoom out: Noem on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday disputed that detainees are held in "jail cells," saying they are in "secure facilities but are held to the highest levels of what the federal government requires for detention facilities."Noem argued "this politics has to end," but similarly accused Democrats of being mum on the state of migrant detention under Biden."Because if you compare them to what happened under the Biden administration and under the Obama administration, these centers are at the highest levels," she said, adding the administration is looking into "how we can get more detention centers." Context: Republicans have continued to slam what they describe as Biden's "open border" policies during the prior surge at the U.S.-Mexico border.Trump, too, has continued playing the Biden blame game, frequently bashing his predecessor to the press, in speeches and on social media.The bottom line: The controversy over the detention center continues to grow, even as officials point to the past and deny fresh allegations. Go deeper: Florida says "Alligator Alcatraz" is temporary. Trump isn't so sure

Comments

World news

Top Trump advisor reveals ‘absolute chaos’ behind the scenes of the Butler assassination attempt

Independent

Trump’s anger over Bolsonaro case leaves top adviser fumbling to justify ‘punishing’ tariffs on Brazil: ‘So, what is it?’

about 5 hours ago

Lawmaker says Alligator Alcatraz is an ‘internment camp’ after joint GOP-Dem visit: ‘Packed into cages’

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Secret Service’s ‘cascade of failures’ allowed Trump assassination attempt, report says

Trump’s latest tariffs ‘are real’ unless deals improve, economic adviser says

Trump defends US Attorney General Pam Bondi over Epstein files

EU pauses trade retaliation against US after Trump’s 30% tariff threat

Trump to attend FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey on anniversary of Butler assassination attempt

Judges are deporting record numbers of young children under Trump

Trump vs. BRICS

Trump could potentially fire Fed's Powell over building renovations, Hassett says

Canadian musician Matthew Good cancels U.S. shows to protest Trump tariffs

Rosie O’Donnell dismisses Trump’s threat to revoke her US citizenship

Could Trump really revoke Rosie O’Donnell’s citizenship?

Trump's paranoid security state

Trump wins big on the Supreme Court's "shadow docket"

Macron calls on EU to ‘defend European interests resolutely’ from Trump tariffs

Trump’s tariff chaos is making him look weaker by the day

Peter MacKinnon: Trump attack on DEI not the main story

Sick Children Will Be Among the Victims of Trump’s Big Bill

Advertisers flock to Fox seeking an ‘audience of one’ — Donald Trump

Ukraine-Russia war latest: North Korea to ‘unconditionally support’ Moscow as Trump vows to send weapons to Kyiv

Why Trump’s Abraham Accords Have Not Meant Mideast Peace

World news

Top Trump advisor reveals ‘absolute chaos’ behind the scenes of the Butler assassination attempt

Israeli airstrike kills children collecting water in Gaza, say officials

Lionesses thrash Wales to reach Euro 2025 knockouts

Cole Palmer inspires as Chelsea stun PSG to win the Club World Cup

Economy and Epstein: Gen Z MAGA wants results

Two women shot dead at Kentucky church

South Africa's police minister suspended over organised crime allegations

President Trump promises "major statement" on Russia

Monday Briefing: America’s Brain Drain and the World

Champagne problem for NYC Whole Foods as Studio 54-founder’s venture causes headaches: suit

Kentucky mass shooter wounds state trooper and others before he’s gunned down at church

England finally show some ‘f**king balls’ to set up thrilling final day at Lord’s

Red Wall MPs tell Reeves to stop letting OBR forecasts block spending

Multiple victims reported after Kentucky church shooting

Cameroon's 92-year-old president seeks 8th term amid health rumors and political challenges

Ecuador offers $100,000 reward for information on lawmaker accused of raping a minor

South African president suspends police minister and launches probe into alleged links to criminals

Multiple people injured after shooting at church in Kentucky

Israeli strikes kill at least 32 in Gaza as Palestinian war deaths top 58,000

RSF storms cattle market and prison in 'death trap' Sudanese city

Nigeria's former President Muhammadu Buhari dies at 82

Macron Increases Military Spending, Saying Freedom Is Threatened

South African President Opens Corruption Inquiry of Police Leader

Alberta’s transgender ban in sports exempts visiting out-of-province athletes

The dirty secret about AI in the office that has CEOs admitting millions of white-collar jobs will be replaced

Elon Musk rips Trump’s ‘boys and gals’ defense of AG Pam Bondi over Epstein-gate: ‘Worst post ever’

Trump’s anger over Bolsonaro case leaves top adviser fumbling to justify ‘punishing’ tariffs on Brazil: ‘So, what is it?’

Lawmaker says Alligator Alcatraz is an ‘internment camp’ after joint GOP-Dem visit: ‘Packed into cages’

Several injured as anti-migrant violence erupts in Spanish town

Trump says he wants to deport 'the worst of the worst.' Government data tell another story

Jannik Sinner ends Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon reign to avenge French Open loss

Senate report details "preventable failures" surrounding Butler assassination attempt

Nigeria's ex-president Buhari dies at 82

French President Macron announces 6.5 billion euros in extra military spending in next two years

Macron announces 6.5 billion euros in extra military spending in next two years

Trump to meet NATO secretary general as plan takes shape for Ukraine weapons sales

Iran president was reportedly injured in Israeli strikes

EU delays retaliatory trade tariffs against US

Texas camp buildings were removed from map showing flood risks, US media reports

Former Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari dies aged 82

WestJet passengers evacuate on slides after engine fire at Vancouver airport

Environment Canada warns of heat and thunderstorms in southern Ontario

Anand says Indo-Pacific strategy will have economic focus but maintain values

Don Cherry ‘very disappointed’ by Ron MacLean’s comments about health, Hockey Night in Canada exit

‘Get out of here, you loser’: Border czar Tom Homan lays into heckler and later admits US citizens are swept up in raids

Texas floods mapped: Here are the affected areas as death toll rises

CCTV: Ukrainian intelligence officer shot dead in Kyiv assassination

Israeli strikes in Gaza kill at least 30 people including six children gathering water, hospitals say

Inmate escapes from French prison by hiding in bag of released cellmate

Police on high alert in France for PSG vs. Chelsea Club World Cup final in US

Feminist hero Gisele Pelicot receives France’s highest civilian honour

Seven absurd questions I heard in Wimbledon’s strange little room

EV buyers to be offered thousands off cost of new cars in £640m government scheme

Man Utd’s stance on Onana – plus the latest on Mbeumo, Rashford and Sancho

Fears of summer holidays measles surge as child dies amid falling vaccinations

How Alcaraz and Sinner compare to Djokovic, Federer and Nadal at similar ages

Streeting to give UK doctors priority on NHS jobs, but won’t boost pay offer