Italian national detained at Florida ICE facility after jail release, denied legal access
Jul 21, 2025·Location: Osceola County, FL
Country of origin: Italy

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
Sources
- Families of Italian nationals held in Alligator Alcatraz plead for their release
CNN·Jul 21, 2025·archived copy
WRAL·Jul 21, 2025·archived copy
- Families of Italian nationals held in Alligator Alcatraz plead for their release - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale
WSVN·Jul 22, 2025·archived copy
- Italian Nationals Held at Florida's Alligator Alcatraz: "We're Caged Like Chickens"
cubaheadlines.com·Jul 21, 2025·archived copy
- Alligator Alcatraz, one of the 2 Italians detained: 'There are 32 of us in a cage'
en.ilsole24ore.com·Jul 19, 2025·archived copy
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