Named Florida’s newest immigration detention center but unofficially nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” the facility has lately become the center of political fight. The 43-acre facility, located near the small town of Avalon, 50 miles west of Miami, soon started welcoming its first immigrant detainees. This happened just a day before five Democratic lawmakers unsuccessfully attempted to enter. Florida’s state-run alternative Miami County Jail, which is remotely controlled, draws millions in funding from FEMA. This arrangement has raised deep concerns from lawmakers, environmentalists, and many in between, particularly regarding its environmental effects.
The Florida state government wasted no time creating Alligator Alcatraz, working hand in glove with federal authorities to do so. The facility will be used to detain immigrants arrested under Florida’s recently expanded 287(g) agreement. This official policy facilitates the use of local law enforcement as extensions of immigration enforcement. Indeed, Florida has more of these 287(g) deputizations than any other state in the country. This designation grants license for widespread, dragnet operations targeting immigrant communities.
On Tuesday’s grand opening, the facility was toured by former President and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. After touring the facility, Trump made the outrageous claim that immigrants are putting their lives in danger to get the hell out of there. He cracked that they’d be pursued by snakes and alligators.
“It might be as good as the real Alcatraz. A little controversial, but I couldn’t care less,” – Donald Trump
Governor DeSantis highlighted the facility’s role in addressing immigration issues, stating, “This is a model, but we need other states to step up.” He proposed that Alligator Alcatraz would encourage undocumented immigrants to self-deport. This allows them to mitigate the possibility of being detained.
“You’ll have a lot of people that will deport on their own because they don’t want to end up in an Alligator Alcatraz, or some of these other places,” – Florida governor Ron DeSantis
State representative Anna Eskamani and four other Democratic lawmakers led the charge against the harsh and controversial detention center. They were met with searing resistance right away, as law enforcement officials turned them away. The lawmakers were seeking to monitor the state of the holding facility and lobby on behalf of immigrants’ rights. Their denial has overshadowed it all with stunning, towering questions of transparency and accountability over just how badly they’ve mismanaged Alligator Alcatraz.
Now two non-profit organizations have sued DHS. They argue that building and operating Alligator Alcatraz violates NEPA and other environmental statutes. These legal challenges spotlight grave concerns about the facility’s effects on the surrounding ecosystem. Given its close proximity to the Everglades, these issues are made all the more troubling.