A South Florida man has shared his experience for the first time since being released from a controversial immigration detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” Michael Rojas, 45, spent several harrowing months in federal custody before regaining his freedom.
Rojas was apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in October 2025 during his routine annual check-in at the Miramar immigration station. Instead of returning home, he found himself detained and subsequently transferred to a remote facility.
After nearly five months of confinement, a phone call in March changed his fate. His wife, Roxana Torres, recounts that Rojas contacted her with news of his impending release from the Krom Detention Center.
At the time of the call, Torres, alongside other families, was actively protesting outside the facility. She hurried to the Krom Detention Center, where she and Rojas were joyfully reunited after months of separation.
Now back home, Rojas has opened up about the inhumane conditions he and other detainees faced. He claims that communication with loved ones was severely restricted, and access to legal representation was limited or nonexistent. He described the living conditions as unsanitary and overcrowded, sharing a shocking detail: “32 people sharing three toilets, so you can imagine the smell.”
Rojas expressed his dissatisfaction with the food provided, alleging that meals frequently arrived spoiled after being left in the heat for extended periods. He reported losing 45 pounds during his four-and-a-half months in detention.
Legal Maneuvering Led to His Release
His wife attributes Rojas’s release to a legal proceeding known as a writ of habeas corpus. This constitutional provision allows detainees to contest the legality of their imprisonment in court, serving as a crucial safeguard for civil liberties.
Torres learned about the writ through conversations with other families. One detainee’s wife suggested, “Why don’t you file a writ of habeas corpus for your husband? It’s free.”
Rojas’s journey to the United States began in 2004 when he emigrated from Cuba. Following an arrest the next year, he was convicted of aiding and abetting murder, serving 13 years in prison. As part of his release, he was required to check in with immigration authorities annually, a mandate that ultimately led to his detention last October.
Although he is now at home, Rojas’s legal situation remains precarious. He is currently mandated to wear an ankle monitor, and a hearing is forthcoming to assess whether it will be removed. “I’m happy that he was finally released,” Torres said. “But in the second half…I don’t know what’s going to happen to him.”
Rojas is also scheduled to report back to the Miramar Detention Center next week as legal complexities continue to overshadow his return to normalcy.
CBS News Miami has reached out to ICE for comment. The agency has acknowledged the situation and stated that it needs more time to provide a thorough response.
