Lawmakers Clash Over ‘Vile’ vs. ‘Well-Run’ Conditions at Florida’s Controversial Everglades Detention Center
Lawmakers Clash Over ‘Vile’ vs. ‘Well-Run’ Conditions at Florida’s Controversial Everglades Detention Center
Democratic lawmakers on Saturday condemned Florida’s new Everglades immigration detention center, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” describing the facility as crowded, unsanitary, and bug-infested following a state-arranged tour. Their Republican counterparts, however, offered starkly different accounts, asserting they found a clean and well-managed site.
The bipartisan tour came after some Democrats were previously denied access to the remote 3,000-bed facility, which was rapidly constructed on an isolated airstrip. U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) called for the center’s immediate closure, detailing conditions such as shared toilet-sink units for 32 men, high temperatures, and abundant insects. She reported hearing detainees call out “I’m an American citizen!” and chant “Libertad!”
Conversely, State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R) and State Sen. Jay Collins (R) reported seeing a well-run facility with clean living quarters and functional air conditioning, dismissing Democratic claims as misrepresenting the reality. Journalists were not permitted on the tour, and lawmakers were prohibited from bringing recording devices.
The facility, which began receiving detainees on July 3, is a cornerstone of efforts by President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) to expand U.S. migrant detention capacity. While state officials maintain the center meets all required standards, previous reports from detainees and advocates have alleged dire conditions, including worm-infested food and overflowing toilets – claims the state vehemently denies.
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