Immigration-rights groups and four men held at the newly opened “Alligator Alcatraz” detention complex in the Florida Everglades filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court this week, accusing the Trump administration and Florida officials of blocking detainees’ access to lawyers and the courts. The complaint says no protocols exist for confidential attorney visits, phone or video calls, or for filing motions with immigration judges, leaving detainees with only brief, monitored collect calls that last about five minutes. The suit, lodged in the Southern District of Florida, names U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Governor Ron DeSantis as defendants and seeks an injunction requiring immediate, unmonitored legal access. It alleges violations of the First and Fifth Amendments and requests class status to cover an estimated 700 people already held at the site, which state officials say could eventually hold 3,000 to 4,000 migrants. Built in eight days at a cost of roughly $450 million on a remote airstrip surrounded by wetlands and wildlife, Alligator Alcatraz has become a centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s expanded deportation drive. Detainees and visiting lawmakers report tents that flood, scarce drinking water, extreme heat and inadequate medical care; state officials deny allegations of deaths or serious medical emergencies at the facility. The legal challenge comes days after a confidential ICE memo—confirmed by the agency—directed officers nationwide to keep undocumented immigrants in custody for the duration of their removal proceedings, eliminating routine bond hearings that previously allowed many to seek release. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons acknowledged the guidance is likely to face further court scrutiny, setting the stage for a broader test of the administration’s detention strategy.