Florida lawmakers made their first official visit over the weekend to the state’s newly constructed immigration detention facility in the Everglades — a site that has drawn national attention and criticism for its remote location, environmental impact, and reported conditions.
Nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” for its isolated setting on an old airstrip deep in swampland, the 3,000-bed center opened earlier this month under the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis. The tour marked the first time elected officials were allowed inside since detainees began arriving on July 2.
The bipartisan delegation included at least five members of Congress and roughly 20 state legislators, who were split into separate tour groups due to the large turnout. While Republican lawmakers largely defended the facility’s conditions, Democratic officials painted a very different picture.
Several Democrats described what they saw as overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, citing issues such as poor air circulation, bug infestations, limited food, and a lack of clean drinking water. “This is not a facility that should be housing human beings,” said State Sen. Shevrin Jones of Miami Gardens, who joined the tour after previously being turned away.
Republican officials, however, pushed back on those claims, saying the center appeared organized and adequately staffed, functioning similarly to other immigration detention centers across the country. “What we saw was a secure facility doing its job,” said one GOP lawmaker on the tour.
Security protocols restricted lawmakers from bringing phones or cameras, and while members of Congress were permitted to bring staff, state legislators were not.
The weekend visit followed controversy earlier this month when a group of state Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Anna Eskamani of Orlando and Carlos Guillermo Smith, were denied access to the facility after showing up unannounced on July 3. They later filed a lawsuit against the state over the blocked visit.
Democrats say they had already planned to inspect the facility independently before the DeSantis administration organized Saturday’s official tour.
“Alligator Alcatraz” has also drawn criticism from environmental groups and tribal advocates, who have filed lawsuits challenging the construction of the facility on sensitive wetlands. Although most Republican officials have defended the location, some privately acknowledge concerns about its long-term environmental impact.
The detention center was toured by former President Donald Trump days before detainees arrived. He was joined by Governor DeSantis and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
With legal, environmental, and humanitarian concerns continuing to mount, state and federal lawmakers say they expect more oversight efforts and investigations into the facility’s operations in the coming weeks.