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Italian national detained at Florida ICE facility after jail release, denied legal access

Jul 21, 2025 · Osceola County, FL, Italy

Italian national detained at Florida ICE facility after jail release, denied legal access

Gaetano Cateno Mirabella Costa, 45, an Italian national from Sicily, was arrested by ICE officials in early 2025 upon his release from jail after serving a six-month sentence for domestic violence and drug possession. He is being held at the ICE detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz" in the Florida Everglades, where he is housed with 32 other detainees in cramped conditions with open bathrooms. According to his account to Italian state broadcaster RAI, he has been denied access to a lawyer or judge. His mother, Rosanna Mirabella Costa, reported he appeared at a hearing in shackles and has not seen daylight for extended periods. DHS states Costa overstayed his B2 visa by nearly seven years. Italian diplomatic officials have sought consular access to verify his wellbeing, and Italian lawmakers have pressed for intervention over detention conditions.

Timeline

Jul 21, 2025Costa's detention conditions and denial of legal access reported to media; mother reported he had not seen daylight in over 10 days and appeared at hearing in chains
Jul 9, 2025Costa transferred to Alligator Alcatraz ICE detention facility in Florida Everglades; Italian diplomatic officials sought consular access
Feb 26, 2025Gaetano Cateno Mirabella Costa arrested by ICE upon release from Marion County jail after serving six months for domestic violence and drug possession

Sources

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