Chronic Law Still At Notorious ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ ICE Facility In Florida
Jamaican artist Chronic Law has been in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for over two weeks and remains held at a Florida facility, known by its controversial nickname, “Alligator Alcatraz.”
Since his initial detention on January 12, information from Chronic Law’s camp has been scarce. His manager, Alexandre “Bashy 1Law” Jones, told DancehallMag on Friday that the Hillside artist has legal representation handling the matter, but he declined to comment further.
Public records show that Chronic Law, born Ackeme Jermane Campbell, was arrested in Turner County, Georgia, in November 2025 on a raft of traffic-related charges.
These included improper/erratic lane changes, reckless driving, speeding in excess of the maximum limit, and the more serious charge of attempting to elude a police officer. One source previously downplayed the severity of those charges, stating, “The case is not [as] serious as bloggers are making it out to be,” and emphasizing that “there are no gun charges.”
Then, in the days leading up to his detention, the 32-year-old appeared to be moving freely in Florida. Two of his most recent Instagram posts were geotagged in Miami, placing him in the area shortly before he was taken into ICE custody.
He was officially listed at the Florida Soft Side South facility on January 15.
Located in Ochopee, within the swamplands of the Everglades, the “Soft Side” designation refers to the facility’s structure: it is comprised largely of temporary, soft-sided tents rather than traditional concrete cell blocks.
Opened in mid-2025 as part of a state crackdown on undocumented immigrants, the facility has drawn criticism from human rights groups like Amnesty International. Detainees have complained of maggot-infested food, heat, and the psychological terror of being surrounded by swamps inhabited by alligators and snakes—a feature Florida officials have touted as a natural deterrent against escape.
On Wednesday, former detainees testified in federal court that they were effectively cut off from the outside world and punished for seeking legal counsel. According to a report by ABC News, witnesses told a judge that they were denied basic supplies like pens and paper, forcing them to write their attorneys’ phone numbers on the walls with soap.
Chronic Law was YouTube Jamaica’s most-streamed artist of 2025. While his catalog is often characterized by dark, gritty narratives of street life, the artist has previously pushed back against claims that he promotes violence. In a 2023 interview, he described his lyrics as anthems of “self-protection” rather than aggression, explaining, “Yuh neva hear mi seh mi jus’ a chop somebody. Mi affi get a cut first.”
His most-streamed songs include Empty, Bless Me, Still A Bleed, Walk With Faith, Corrupt, Hillside, Plastic Smile, and Count My Blessings.