Two Mexican brothers that were detained at the Florida migrant center known as Alligator Alcatraz have been returned to their home countries without criminal charges, local officials confirmed.
"They are both in our country, without charges, and with up-to-date documents. We recognize the labor carried out by our consulates in Orlando and Miami to assist in the case," said Roberto Velasco Alvarez, a high-ranking Foreign Ministry official for the U.S.
The case of the brothers, Carlos Martin Gonzalez-Meza and Oscarl Alejandro Gonzalez Meza, made headlines in Mexico as they claimed they were in the U.S. legally.
Infobae noted that they were nonetheless arrested at a traffic stop and held in the detention center, which has been mired by accusations of mistreatment. Carlos was taken by police on July 7 following a minor traffic infraction despite having an up-to-date visa. Oscar, in turn, was detained shortly after despite being married to a U.S. citizen.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, in turn, claimed that Carlos was working in the country unlawfully and that Alejandro had overstayed his visa.
The brothers were among the 14 nationals Mexico was seeking to repatriate last week. "All arrangements are being made to ensure they are repatriated immediately," President Claudia Sheinbaum said last week.
Democrats have repeatedly criticized the building of the facility and the conditions in which detainees are being held. Last week a group of lawmakers introduced legislation aimed at shutting it down.
The bill is called the "No Cages in the Everglades Act" and is led by Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. It seeks to prevent DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from operating or funding the facility, as well as any other "immigration detention facility located within or adjacent to the Everglades ecosystem."
"Trump and Ron DeSantis have exploited legal ambiguity around this Everglades internment camp to avoid any scrutiny of abuses there," the lawmaker said in a statement.
"Our bill would shut down this atrocity, strengthen oversight of detention facilities nationwide, and mandate public reporting on costs, conditions, and the treatment of detainees, as well as report on any harms to the environment and nearby tribal lands," it adds.
The Miami Herald, however, noted that the bill is unlikely to be successful, considering Republicans control the Lower House.
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
