This is the newest chapter in America’s immigration crisis, where private companies profit while human suffering deepens.
July 21, 2025
By Nick Valencia
ATLANTA — The Florida-based company that lost its lucrative contract amid allegations of mismanagement and worker abuse at the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz,” is now facing new accusations of financial corruption.
Jacksonville-based Critical Response Strategies (CRS), was allegedly paying its lowest-paid employees at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport (TNT) $38 an hour, according to local news reports citing records. Those same employees were given $57 an hour for overtime, the report said.
But a source with knowledge of the pay scale said, that is "flat-out false." And the discrepancy in pay from paper records to reality is sizable.
Some CRS employees were making as little as $20 an hour, and that included corrections assistants and janitors, a source with knowledge of the payroll told Nick Valencia News. Separately, corrections officers—some of whom were unvetted and untrained—earned $26 an hour; safety and administrative staff made $30 an hour; and the highest paid employees—camp managers—received $45 an hour, the source said.
“If the official records show higher pay rates, CRS leadership is either lying—or pocketing the difference,” the source alleged.
Adding to the concerns about CRS and its qualifications to run an immigration facility, Florida State Rep. Anna Eskamani told Nick Valencia News the company was given a “no-bid contract,” thanks to an executive order.
CRS’s mistreatment of employees is now well-documented. Workers say the company promised travel reimbursement but failed to deliver, advertised pay rates that were never honored, and even docked workers for expenses they were told would be covered.
“This entire company is a complete joke,” one insider said.
Another source echoed: “It’s all about the money, and they are not good people from my experience.”
“Damn near everybody we’ve come across is about the money. Period,” another said.
Despite repeated attempts, CRS has not returned our requests for comment.