Two Former Alligator Alcatraz Guards Face Battery Charges

Two former guards at Florida’s now-closed “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center have pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor battery charges stemming from an alleged Jan. 25 assault on detainee Rigoberto Rodríguez Arce. A former detainee said Stephen Trejos threw Rodríguez Arce to the ground and struck him, while Andre Seenaraine punched him during a protest in which detainees reportedly banged handcuffs against benches after going hours without food or water. Rodríguez Arce was later transferred to a detention center in Texas with reported injuries, including a black eye and a bandaged hand. Trejos’ attorneys dispute that account, saying surveillance footage shows Rodríguez Arce spat at Trejos, who used a single compliance strike before officers restrained him. The men were arrested in June, released on $1,000 bonds, and face potential penalties of up to a year in jail if convicted. The facility, which opened in 2025, was closed after Florida officials said it had served its temporary purpose, while advocates had criticized conditions and access to legal assistance.