Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are being held in a Special Housing Unit at the Federal Detention Centre in downtown Miami, a concrete tower housing 1,478 men. The facility is said to be disgusting, with overflowing toilets filling hallways with stinking waste, rats on the loose, and only filthy brown water available to drink.
The 39-year-old influencer, who is detained on rape charges, says he is forced to drink dirty brown water from a shower and claims other inmates have placed a target on his back. Despite the conditions, he reportedly still has access to social media, posting on X: “no commissary. No visits. No contact with the outside world. I am an innocent until proven guilty extradition detainee. I’m wanted by a foreign state. I am an American citizen. WHY AM I HERE?”
Conditions labeled a disgrace
An official report released last year said inmates are forced to kneel and eat “like dogs”, with their hands shackled and food placed on chairs in front of them. The prison is also said to have crumbling walls and no air conditioning, making conditions sweltering.
The brothers were arrested at a bare-knuckle boxing event in Miami on July 18 after British authorities issued 38 new charges. They now face a total of 59 charges, including rape, human trafficking and indecent images of a child. Their legal team must file a motion for release on bail by August 5, and a detention hearing is scheduled for August 13 to decide whether they stay in jail or are released during what could become a months-long extradition battle. The pair deny all charges.
Attorney: conditions are a disgrace
Their attorney, Joseph McBride, said: “The conditions Andrew and Tristan Tate are being held in are a disgrace.” He described the cells as small and filthy, with cockroaches, shower water to drink, no chair, lights they cannot control, and food that makes Taco Bell look like a Michelin restaurant. “Their beds are too small for men who are 6ft 3in and 6ft 5in,” he added, noting the brothers are often prevented from going outside.
McBride also warned of safety concerns: “There is serious concern that a target has been placed on Andrew and Tristan’s back. When someone becomes one of the most recognisable and polarising figures in the world, security is not a theoretical issue, it’s a real consideration.”
Official responses
UK prosecutors said the latest charges come after police investigated allegations from four additional victims. The White House has said it will not intervene in the extradition process, despite the brothers’ vocal support for Donald Trump. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters: “There’s no role for us to play at this moment, or maybe ever.”
The Bureau of Prisons denied claims of poor conditions at the Miami facility, saying: “Currently, the drinking water at FDC Miami is certified safe to drink.” It added that placement in the SHU can be for administrative detention, which is non-punitive, and said: “The BOP remains committed to ensuring the safety of our employees, inmates, and the public.”
