Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) sparked confusion — and ridicule — during a recent visit to a Florida detention facility, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” where she expressed shock over conditions that most Americans would recognize as standard for detention settings.
According to reports, Wasserman Schultz appeared stunned that detainees were being held in “cages,” prompting critics to question whether she understood the basic concept of incarceration. As my colleague Bob Hoge pointed out, detention centers — like jails and prisons — are not designed for comfort. They are secure facilities meant to house individuals under legal custody. “It’s not the Ritz,” Hoge noted. “It’s an enclosed barracks setup.”
Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, after tour of Alligator Alcatraz:
“They are using cages. These detainees are living in cages!” pic.twitter.com/xTkgtchme9
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) July 12, 2025
What’s more striking is the selective outrage. Wasserman Schultz, like many Democrats, was silent when similar — and often worse — conditions occurred under the Biden administration. In 2023, illegal migrants were seen packed into stifling detention zones in places like Ajo, Arizona, sitting on floors in sweltering temperatures. That didn’t seem to prompt any dramatic press tours or breathless soundbites.
It wasn’t until President Donald Trump began restoring order at the border that Democrats suddenly rediscovered their concern for detention conditions.
But the real moment that had observers shaking their heads — or laughing out loud — came when Wasserman Schultz proclaimed with apparent horror:
— Nickarama (@nickaramaOG) July 15, 2025
“They brush their teeth where they poop, in the same unit!”
The comment was quickly mocked across social media and by critics who pointed out that most Americans — including in apartments, homes, dormitories, and yes, prisons — have bathrooms where toilets and sinks share the same space. That setup is hardly unique to detention centers and has been standard in correctional facilities for decades.
Right now in Ajo AZ Sector for the Border Patrol. Hundreds in custody on top of what was caught last night. Already getting reports of large numbers crossing and Border Patrol trying to respond. They are overwhelmed and this administration
is letting this happen with no support! pic.twitter.com/Kkqv3xq8h9— John Fabbricatore (@JohnE_Fabb) September 13, 2023
The standard sink-and-toilet combo fixture found in these settings is a common design, built for security and hygiene. That Wasserman Schultz was unfamiliar with it — or feigned outrage over it — led many to question whether her concern was genuine or simply political theater.
More to the point: where was this outrage when American citizens were subjected to the same setup behind bars? Or when the Biden administration’s border policies led to mass overcrowding and prolonged detention of migrants in far worse conditions?
Distance A: Perfectly normal sink-to-commode distance.
Distance B: Slightly closer distance, typical of prison toilets but clearly a genocidal war crime worse than 9/11.
*if a Republican is in office. https://t.co/2HvG6rOiEP pic.twitter.com/tZakOKAS2a
— Renna (@RennaW) July 14, 2025
The reality is clear: if it happens under Trump, Democrats cry foul — even if they ignored or excused the same (or worse) under their own leadership. It’s the same playbook every time. What was acceptable under Biden becomes “inhumane” under Trump, regardless of facts or consistency.
