Environmental groups protested this Saturday in front of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, deep in the Florida Everglades, against the construction of what they have dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz”, a controversial immigrant detention center that, according to Governor Ron DeSantis, will expand the state’s capacity to process and deport undocumented immigrants.
According to the outlet Local 10 News, the demonstration, organized by the groups Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, brought together dozens of protesters along the Tamiami Trail.
The protest occurs a day after activists attempted to block the construction of the immigrant detention center in the Florida Everglades with a federal lawsuit, criticizing the lack of an environmental review.
Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a 27-page lawsuit in a federal court in Miami against the Department of Homeland Security, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and Miami-Dade County.
The groups assert that the construction was carried out without any environmental review, as required by the National Environmental Policy Law.
Alligator Alcatraz
Alligator Alcatraz, so named by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, the center will accommodate up to 5,000 people in an area known as the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, which is surrounded by the Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park.
The name “Alligator Alcatraz” refers to the isolated location of the site, surrounded by alligators and other wild species that would act as a natural security barrier.
DeSantis visited the site on Friday morning and defended the project as a response to what he called “federal inaction” on immigration enforcement.
“This will be a place where illegal immigrants can be processed and then deported from here. It will have thousands of illegal immigrants and will increase the capacity for deportations,” he said to Fox.
Despite the lawsuits and protests, DeSantis stated that the first group of detainees could arrive next week.
The property, covering approximately 78 square kilometers, will have military support, particularly from the Florida National Guard.
State authorities project that the center will be operational by early July, with an initial capacity of at least 1,000 detainees and gradually expanding.
Concerns and oppositions
The mayor of Miami-Dade, Daniella Levine Cava, acknowledged Governor Ron DeSantis’s authority to purchase a county-owned airport in the Everglades and build an immigrant detention center, but stated that she has “significant concerns” about its environmental impact.
“We understand that state agencies under the direction of the Governor have broad authority to take action during declared states of emergency, but the rapid pace of this effort has provided little opportunity for due diligence given the potential significant impacts on our community,” stated Levine Cava in a statement.
He said that the state of Florida had informed the county about the state project to convert the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport into a detention center to house presumed undocumented immigrants, but noted that county officials “still have significant concerns about the scope and scale of the state’s effort, particularly regarding the environmental safeguards in place, given the potentially devastating impact on the Everglades.“
Frequently asked questions about the “Alligator Alcatraz” project in the Everglades
What is “Alligator Alcatraz” and why is it controversial?
“Alligator Alcatraz” is an immigrant detention center under construction in the Florida Everglades, driven by Governor Ron DeSantis. It is controversial due to environmental and human rights concerns, as it is situated in an ecologically sensitive area and proposes to use the natural environment as a security barrier.
What are the main environmental concerns about “Alligator Alcatraz”?
The main environmental concerns focus on the potential negative impact on the Everglades ecosystem, one of the most important natural reserves in the United States. Environmental groups criticize that the project has begun without an adequate environmental review, which could cause irreversible damage.
What legal actions have the opponents of the project taken?
Opponents of the project, including Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, have filed a federal lawsuit to halt construction, arguing the lack of environmental review as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. The lawsuit seeks to stop the project’s progress until the necessary studies are conducted.
How does Governor Ron DeSantis justify the construction of “Alligator Alcatraz”?
Ron DeSantis justifies the construction as a response to “federal inaction” in immigration law enforcement. According to him, the center will allow for more efficient processing and deportation of undocumented immigrants, thereby supporting the immigration policies of the Trump administration.
