DHS Covers Up Medical Crisis

A disturbing medical emergency at a controversial immigration detention site in Florida is
drawing serious concern from advocates, attorneys, and the families of those detained.

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Reports indicate that a widespread illness is affecting many people held at the “Alligator
Alcatraz” facility, and that medical care is being denied even in life threatening situations. One
recent case highlights the severity of the conditions inside.
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For 48 hours, one Venezuelan detainee, Luis Manuel Rivas Velasquez, was unable to contact his
family after collapsing in Tent 5 of the facility and suffering a serious health emergency.

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The 38-years-old, who was previously healthy, found himself unable to breathe. He repeatedly
asked guards for help guards but was denied care, with one guard telling him “I can’t help you.”

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Mr. Rivas Velasquez was eventually taken to Kendall Hospital and diagnosed with a “respiratory
infection.” Despite his condition, he was handcuffed tightly to his hospital bed while armed
guards mocked him and made comments about needing to be “tough” on him.

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Based on reports from fellow detainees who saw him lose consciousness and become
nonresponsive, his family feared he had died. On Thursday, he was finally able to contact his
family and legal counsel.
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He told his attorneys that upon being returned to “Alligator Alcatraz,” officials took the medical
records and refused to give them back. Family members of other detainees say that many
people are sick at the facility, with little to no medical attention.
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On Thursday, Mr. Rivas Velasquez made the following statement:
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“We are all sick in this jail. Some are worse than others, it is an emergency. They are treating
us like dogs, like animals. People are suffering from lack of medicine. Somebody needs to do
something to help us.”
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He still struggled to breathe as he spoke, and the phone call was abruptly cut off soon
afterward.
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His sister, Ada Yeniree Velasquez Pereira, said:
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“My brother is not in good health. And according to the testimonies we have received, 80% of
the people detained there are not either. This is not an isolated situation: it is a humanitarian
emergency. I urgently request the collaboration of those who can help—organizations, media
outlets, authorities—to protect the life of my brother and everyone else there. The
responsible entities must assume their duty and not allow this situation to continue. My
brother does not deserve to be treated like an animal, nor to live in conditions that violate his
dignity and health. What is happening is unacceptable, and he must receive immediate
attention.”
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Mr. Rivas Velasquez’s pro bono attorneys, Eric Lee and Chris Godshall-Bennett of Lee &
Godshall-Bennett, LLP and James Hollis of McEntee Law Group issued the following statement:

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“Crimes of historic proportions are taking place at the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ internment camp.
This disappearance and potential near-death experience in the custody of DHS and State of
Florida must be a wake-up call for all Americans. None of us can claim ignorance. Will we
allow crimes like this to be committed by the government in our own back yard? This sadistic
human experiment must be immediately shut down. All those responsible for creating
deliberately inhumane conditions must be criminally investigated and prosecuted to the full
extent of the law.”
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If you have a relative at Alligator Alcatraz who is ill or fearful of becoming ill, email
info@mcenteelaw.com

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