South Florida man released from "Alligator Alcatraz" describes conditions inside

A South Florida antheral who spent months successful national migration custody is speaking publically for the archetypal clip aft his merchandise from a arguable detention installation wide known arsenic "Alligator Alcatraz."

Maikel Rojas, 45, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement successful October past twelvemonth aft showing up for a routine, court-mandated yearly check-in astatine the Miramar migration office. Instead of being allowed to instrumentality home, helium was taken into custody and aboriginal transferred to the distant detention site.

For astir 5 months, Rojas remained detained — until a telephone telephone successful March changed everything.

"My hubby called me, and helium said he's going to Krome for release," said his wife, Roxana Torres.

Torres says she had been protesting extracurricular the installation with different families of detainees erstwhile she received the call. She instantly rushed to the Krome Detention Center, wherever the mates was reunited aft months apart.

Now backmost home, Rojas describes what helium calls inhumane conditions wrong the facility.

He claims detainees were not allowed visits from loved ones and had constricted oregon nary entree to ineligible representation. He besides described unsanitary and overcrowded surviving conditions.

"We person nary privacy. ... There are cameras implicit the toilets," Rojas said successful Spanish. "Thirty-two radical stock 3 toilets, truthful you tin ideate the smell."

Rojas besides complained astir the food, alleging that meals often arrived spoiled aft sitting for hours successful the heat. He says helium mislaid 45 pounds during his four-and-a-half months astatine the facility.

Rojas' woman says his merchandise was owed to habeas corpus

His woman credits his merchandise to a ineligible filing known arsenic a habeas corpus petition — a law safeguard that allows detainees to situation the legality of their detention successful court.

"Habeas corpus is simply a cardinal ineligible enactment ... forcing authorities to warrant a person's confinement earlier a judge," according to the United States Courts.

Torres says she learned astir the enactment from different detainee's wife.

"One of the wives told me, 'Do you privation to bash habeas corpus for your husband?'" she said. "It's free."

Rojas arrived successful the United States from Cuba successful 2004. The pursuing year, helium was arrested and aboriginal convicted arsenic an accessory to murder. He served 13 years successful situation and, aft his release, was required to study annually to migration authorities.

That request yet led to his detention past October.

Although helium is location now, Rojas' ineligible concern remains unresolved. He is required to deterioration an ankle show and has an upcoming proceeding that could find whether it volition beryllium removed.

"I consciousness blessed due to the fact that he's yet released," Torres said. "But the 2nd portion — I don't cognize what's going to hap with him."

Rojas is besides scheduled to study again to the Miramar detention installation adjacent week.

CBS News Miami reached retired to ICE for comment. The bureau acknowledged the enquiry but said it needs much clip to respond.

In:

• Immigration
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• Alligator Alcatraz
• Cuba
• South Florida
• Undocumented Immigrants