In a bird’s-flight view from the helicopter, the Migrant Deteency Center named “Aligator Alcatraz” is located at the Dade-Collier training and transition airport on July 4, 2025 in Ochopee, Florida. (Photo Alon Skuy/Getty Images)
Washington – as Trump’s administration passes to extend the immigrants detention centers throughout the country through state partnerships, more than 60 democratic legislators on Wednesday pressed the best immigration officials to obtain detailed information about the quickly built facility in Florida Everglades, named by the Republicans as “Alcatraz alligator”.
“By rejecting fears from the supervisory authorities of human rights, ecological groups and tribal nations, the Internal Security Department (DHS) obstructed the construction of this expansive detention institution, which may violate detained human rights, threatens public and environmental health and violate federal law”, and violate federal law ” According to the letter Signed by 65 democratic members of the Congress.
The letter appears after immigration in the USA and customs enforcement on Tuesday He announced a partnership With the state of Nebrask, to open a 300-person federal immigration stop for its version of “Alcatraz”, called “Cornhuksker Cllk”.
Another object at Bunker Hill, Indiana, Called “Slammer Speedway” is built to have 1000 immigrants.
The Democrats turned to the letter to the secretary of DHS Kristi Noem, General Office of the DHS Inspector Joseph V. Cuffari, American immigration and customs goals, director, director Todd Lyon and performing the function of fema David Richardson.
DHS did not respond to the request of the states of Newsroom for a comment regarding a letter from Democrats.
Lawsuits in Florida
Because Trump’s administration strives to implement mass deportation plans, partnerships with states to stop immigrants to remove are crucial, but also provoke opposition.
The facility in Everglades, in which officials are and federal are aimed at stopping up to 5,000 immigrants, is currently in the face of a legal challenge in a federal court from immigration supporters in connection with the allegations of confined access to lawyers for detainees.
There is also a second process from environmental groups and the Miccosukee tribe to stop the construction of the site, arguing that it violates federal environmental regulations.
“Experts are afraid that this innovative state -owned immigration model will allow Florida to create a” independent, unknown arrest system “that works parallel to the federal stop system” according to the letter.
Other states following Florida’s main advantage?
Democrats also expressed the concern that the object in Everglades would serve as a model for other countries.
“In addition to problems related to human rights and the appropriate process, this plan raises serious concerns about the environment,” according to the letter.
In the letter, democrats ask for information about the legal authority for Florida’s state to build and conduct migrants; Agreement between the state and DHS related to the operation of the object; and the means taken to ensure pristine water, food, temperature regulation and medical care are provided, among others, for detainees.
“Human rights experts condemned this plan as” cruel and inhuman “according to the project”, according to the letter. “Construction followed” Turbo speed “and remains unclear whether the facility plans to provide medical care, quick evacuation of hurricane, access to an advisor and sufficient sewage infrastructure, running water and temperature control, although it is found in one of the” worships “.
Democrats are also looking for inspection reports, environmental review documents and private suppliers running the facility.
The letter asks for a reply until September 3.
Democratic senators who signed this letter are: Jeff Merkley and Ron Published by Oregon, Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts, Jon Ossoff from Georgia, Brian Scatz and Mazie Hirono from Hawaii, Chris Van Hollen from Maryland and Tina Smith from Minnesot.
Democratic representatives who signed a letter are: DEBBIA Wasserman Schultz, Kathy Castor, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Frederica S. Wilson, Lois Frankel and Maxwell Alejandro Frost of Florida; Hank Johnson and Nargoma Williams from Georgia; Betty McCollum from Minnesota; Rashida Tlaib and Shri Thanemedar from Michigan; Valerie P. Foushee from North Carolina; Chuy GarcÃa, Bradley Scott Schneider, Delia C. Ramirez, Danny K. Davis, Sean Casten, Mike Quigley and Jonathan L. Jackson from Illinois; Pramila Jayapal, Suzan K. Delbene and Adam Smith from Washington; Eleanor Holmes Norton from the Colombia district; Dina Titus from Nevada; Glenn Ivey and Sarah Elfreth from Maryland; Gwen S. Moore from Wisconsin; Luis Correa, Juan Vargas, Mark Takano, Zoe Lofgren, Mike Thompson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, John Garamendi and Jim Costa of California; Janelle S. Bynum, Suzanne Bonamici, Maxine Dexter and Andrea Salinas from Oregon; Yvette D. Clarke, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Paul Tonko and Dan Goldman from New York; Sylvia R. Garcia, Jasmine Crockett and Veronica Escobar from Texas; Wesley Bell and Emanuel Cleaver from Missouri; Summer L. Lee and Mary Gay Scanlon from Pennsylvania; Jahan Hayes from Connecticut; Brittany Pettersen from Colorado; Yassamin Ansari from Arizona; Seth Multon and James P. McGovern from Massachusetts; Seth Magaziner from Rhode Island; and Sarah McBride from Delaware.
