Prior to the first day of July, when Governor Ron DeSantis publicized the initiation of an immigration detention camp dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ in the Everglades, the project had already been under heavy scrutiny. Several Democratic legislators, environmentalist bodies, the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, and other objectors had vehemently opposed the scheme and instigated legal action in federal court to challenge its establishment.
The camp, built approximately 50 miles west of Miami on an airstrip, gained attention for its hasty completion, with critics arguing that no sufficient assessment was made regarding its possible effects on local wildlife and the surrounding environment. However, officials from DeSantis’ administration dismissed these allegations, arguing that the immigration camp was crucial to assist with President Donald Trump’s strategy to expel millions of unauthorized immigrants from the country.
The Alligator Alcatraz has been touted as more than a mere detention center. It’s a comprehensive facility with the capacity to accommodate up to 3,000 presumed unlawfully present immigrants who can be confined, processed, and expelled from the same premises.
A month following Trump’s inspection of Alligator Alcatraz, and the introduction of its first detainees, we have collated a chronology of narratives and happenings leading up to the establishment of the facility and the ensuing controversies it has attracted since its inception.
On the 18th of June, the Attorney General of Florida announced plans to construct a large-scale immigrant detention center. The intended location for this facility was a sizable tract of land within Everglades, owned by Miami-Dade County, and the proposed name was ‘Alligator Alcatraz’.
Five days later, the Mayor of Miami-Dade communicated with state authorities requesting more preciseness and illumination about their plans. The proposed detention center was to be housed on the delicate swamplands of the Big Cypress Preserve, a county-managed property.
By the 24th of June, state officials were progressing at an exceptional pace towards realising the Alligator Alcatraz project. This high-speed construction drew sharp criticism from environmental groups dedicated to preserving the delicate balance of the threatened wetlands.
On June 27th, environmental entities instigated a federal lawsuit in an attempt to halt what they termed as the ‘inconsiderate plan’. Their stance was that the project should not go forward without rigorous environmental evaluation, a requirement mandated by federal law.
The next day, a joint rally was held by several groups as they gathered to express dissent against the impending construction of the immigrant detention center. At the heart of their concerns were the preservation of the environment and the rights of the detainees.
More than a week later, on July 12th, following an initial denial of access to a group of state legislators, both federal and state lawmakers were permitted a guided tour of Alligator Alcatraz. Democratic representatives painted a grim picture of the prison conditions, describing cells packed with 32 grown men.
On July 16th, a fresh class-action lawsuit accused the Alligator Alcatraz of obstructing detainees from accessing legal aid, thereby denying them a fair chance to challenge their apprehension.
Just two days later, Trump, Florida Republicans, and federal authorities lauded Alligator Alcatraz as a tool to incarcerate so-called ‘worst of the worst’. While it was true that violent criminals were among the initial 750 detainees, a fact-check revealed they were few in number.
On 22nd of July, an official record indicated that contracts worth at least $245 million had already been signed by Gov. DeSantis’ administration. This staggering amount was to be used for the establishment and operation of the new immigration detention center.
The same day, Alligator Alcatraz found itself facing severe criticism not just over its ‘cage-cell’ style of detainment, but also due to allegations of controversial punishment methods perpetrated by guards, including forced sun exposure for hours as a result of altercations with the staffers.
By July 28th, a federal judge requested more clear-cut information regarding the control and management of Alligator Alcatraz, following a legal dispute about attorney access to clients contained within the controversial immigration detention center situated within the Everglades.
The post Alligator Alcatraz: The Controversial Immigration Center in the Everglades appeared first on Real News Now.
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