A federal lawsuit filed on Monday alleges that immigration officers at the Alcatraz detention center in San Francisco used an alligator named Godzilla to intimidate and control detainees. The lawsuit, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of several former detainees, claims that officers would bring the alligator into the detention area and threaten to release it among the detainees if they did not comply with orders.
Allegations of Psychological Torture
The lawsuit describes a pattern of psychological abuse, including the use of the alligator to instill fear. According to the complaint, the alligator was kept in a cage on the premises and was occasionally paraded through the facility. Detainees reported that officers would say, "Godzilla is hungry," or "You don't want to end up as alligator food."
One former detainee, identified as Juan Perez, stated that he was forced to stand in a corner while the alligator was brought within a few feet of him. "I was terrified. I thought I was going to be eaten alive," Perez said in a statement released by the ACLU.
ICE Response
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have denied the allegations. In a statement, an ICE spokesperson said, "ICE does not condone the use of animals to intimidate detainees. We are reviewing the lawsuit and will respond accordingly." The agency also noted that the alligator was a registered therapy animal for staff, but the lawsuit disputes this claim.
Background on Alcatraz Facility
The Alcatraz detention center, located on an island in San Francisco Bay, has been a point of controversy for years. Originally a federal prison, it was repurposed as an immigration detention facility in 2019. Detainees have previously reported harsh conditions, including overcrowding and lack of medical care.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and an injunction to prevent the use of the alligator in the future. A hearing is scheduled for next month.
