He Came to Central Florida on Vacation To Mourn the Loss of His Mother, He Ended up in Alligator Alcatraz

A Mexican tourist, as well as his brother, who is married to an American citizen, have been detained by the Florida Highway Patrol and sent to the infamous detention center, Alligator Alcatraz. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Carlos Martin Gonzalez, 26, came to the United States on a tourist visa to visit his brother, Oscar, and take a vacation after the death of their mother, but after a traffic stop, both brothers were detained by the FHP and sent to the notorious South Florida prison.

A group of people walk through a facility with fenced enclosures containing bunk beds, suggesting a detention or temporary shelter environment. The two people in front are engaged in conversation. — Credit: U.S. Department of Homeland Security

On July 7, Carlos was driving in Orlando when he was pulled over by FHP for having tinted windows and driving with Mexican license plates. At the time, he did not have the car’s registration with him.

Oscar arrived on the scene with the car’s registration; however, it was not in either of the brothers’ names. Carlos was arrested for driving an unregistered vehicle, an offense that usually results in a ticket.

Carlos was taken to the Orange County Jail and later sent to Alligator Alcatraz. Their father, Martin, said he does not know why Oscar was detained, and there is no record of his arrest.

Four people stand inside a facility with chain-link fenced enclosures and bunk beds. Three men in business attire, one wearing a red cap, and one woman in casual clothes and a white hard hat are present. — Credit: U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Carlos had been in the United States on a tourist visa for the past three months and was scheduled to return to Mexico on July 15. Oscar, an American citizen, came to Central Florida eight months ago with his wife to start a new life. He was in the process of getting his green card.

Both Carlos and Oscar spent three days in Orange County Jail, and then were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and sent to Alligator Alcatraz.

Hoy recibí a Don Martín González, padre de dos jóvenes mexicanos detenidos en Orlando y trasladados a la prisión conocida como #AlligatorAlcatraz.

Su hijo Carlos se encontraba de vacaciones con visa de turista vigente tras el fallecimiento de su madre; Alejandro está casado con… pic.twitter.com/pbwxBew1aB

— Juan Sabines Guerrero +🤚🏽 (@Juansabinesg) July 21, 2025

Martin told the Sentinel:

They tell me they are scared and desperate to get back to their home country. They say it’s a closed place with artificial lights on 24 hours a day, and they don’t know what time it is, or if it’s day or night.

The Mexican consulate in Orlando, Juan Sabines Guerrero, has hired an immigration attorney to get the two men released and repatriated to Mexico. He is also issuing a warning to any Mexican citizen coming to Central Florida as a tourist.

We don’t want to say, ‘Don’t come to Florida. We love Disney. But there are just some warnings that if you want to come to Orlando, be safe and put in your pocket your drivers license or your visa. This is a difficult time for us.

Mickey Mouse looking sad and clutching something — Credit: Disney

In 2024, 6.5 million visitors came to Central Florida from outside America, with Mexico making up the third largest number of International visitors behind the United Kingdom and Canada. Since Trump took office, the number of international visitors to the United States has been dramatically declining, costing the tourism sector nearly $29 billion.

Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, said there are currently 14 Mexican nationals being held at Alligator Alcatraz, and she is working for their immediate return to her country. She also says that Mexico is investigating whether their civil rights were violated when they were detained or the conditions in the notorious prison.

We will continue to update this story as more news breaks.