A coalition of Senate and House Democrats is calling for greater transparency from officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding the controversial immigration detention facility located in the Florida Everglades, known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
In a letter dispatched late Tuesday, lawmakers expressed grave concerns over the Trump administration’s shift to a “novel state-run immigration detention model,” which they believe may violate federal law, reducing the federal government’s accountability for the conditions within immigrant detention centers.
This push for more oversight comes in response to the administration’s embrace of utilizing state-operated facilities for detaining noncitizens during immigration proceedings. In addition to “Alligator Alcatraz,” officials have also adopted state-run sites like the recently closed state prison termed “Deportation Depot,” and expanded ICE detention space in facilities nicknamed “Speedway Slammer” in Indiana and “Cornhusker Clink” in Nebraska.
“Experts worry this novel state-run immigration detention model will allow Florida to create an ‘independent, unaccountable detention system’ that runs parallel to the federal detention system,” the bipartisan group of 8 senators and 57 representatives noted in their correspondence.
The rapid construction of the “Alligator Alcatraz” facility on a rarely used airstrip in the Everglades has drawn intense scrutiny from various political and legal circles since its inception in June. The temporary detention center, which can currently hold 3,000 migrants awaiting deportation, was visited by President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in early July.
During their tour, President Trump made a lighthearted remark about security at the facility. “They have a lot of bodyguards and a lot of cops that are in the form of alligators. You don’t have to pay them so much. I wouldn’t want to run through the Everglades for long,” he joked.
Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz from Florida spearheaded the letter requesting information by September 3. The lawmakers asked for clarification on the legal authority enabling Florida to operate the facility, assurances that it meets federal detainee treatment standards, and an outline of the reimbursement process from DHS to the state.
In their letter, the lawmakers asserted, “Brushing aside concerns from human rights watchdogs, environmentalist groups, and Tribal nations, the Department of Homeland Security has greenlit the construction of this expansive detention facility that may violate detained individuals’ human rights, jeopardize public and environmental health, and violate federal law. We ask that DHS promptly provide critical information for the American public to better understand this detention plan.”
Moreover, they have sought additional details regarding the legal access rights for detainees in the facility and the potential environmental impact of the site—issues central to two ongoing federal lawsuits challenging the detention center’s operations. Notably, a federal judge has temporarily halted further construction due to environmental concerns, while a lawsuit concerning legal access was partly dismissed following the establishment of a nearby immigration court to handle matters related to Alligator Alcatraz.
A spokesperson for DHS has not yet commented on the lawmakers’ letter. However, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin has previously stated that the facility complies with federal detention standards.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has praised “Alligator Alcatraz” as an effective collaboration with the Trump administration to expedite deportations. He emphasized the need for other states to adopt similar models in an effort to increase the frequency of deportations.
“I know that the administration has called on other states to follow suit and expand this type of capacity, and I would just reiterate that call. I think it’s important. I think it will make a difference,” DeSantis remarked during a press conference at the facility in July.
Since the opening of “Alligator Alcatraz,” immigration advocates have heightened their demands for increased transparency regarding the operations of the facility, claiming that initial lack of clarity was designed to limit oversight. According to documents disclosed in an ongoing lawsuit contesting the facility’s legitimacy, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the Florida State Guard, and private contractors are operating the site under a 287(g) agreement with the federal government.
From a legal standpoint, an attorney for the Department of Justice explained in a recent court filing that while detainees are held in the physical custody of the state, they are considered under federal custody for certain legal purposes.
Experts like H. Marissa Montes, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, have voiced concerns regarding this state-run detention model. Montes stated that it allows the federal government to offload detention responsibilities to complacent states and private entities. This shift expands the individual states’ involvement in federal immigration proceedings, creating a new paradigm for detention.
“Given that DHS is working directly with the Florida state government on a detention facility with alarming implications, DHS should ensure transparency and accountability surrounding the facility’s financing operations,” the lawmakers pointed out in their letter.
As President Trump commits to executing the most extensive deportation plan in U.S. history, the use of facilities such as “Alligator Alcatraz” is believed to foster a deterrent effect that may lead to increased instances of self-deportation among migrants.
“We’ve got an increased number of people who come in seeking to self-deport because they’d rather self-deport in a way that’s dignified, right, than at the hands of the federal government,” Montes observed, highlighting the profound implications of the current detention strategies.
The situation surrounding “Alligator Alcatraz” illustrates the heightened tensions and concerns regarding immigration detention practices, as advocates continue to seek clarity and accountability from the federal government.
image source from：abcnews
