TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – A third federal lawsuit has been filed involving Alcatraz, a crocodile at the national immigration detention center.
Civil rights groups represent detainees who are challenging the use of Florida’s 287(g) contract. They empower state and local law enforcement agencies to help the federal government in enforcement.
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Counsel Alana Greer is involved in the Community Justice Project. Greer said the state was too far away in understanding and enforcing the agreement.
“What we’re looking at now is that the operation of these facilities is illegal and not justified by the 287(g) agreement,” Greer said.
The lawsuit alleges that federal law does not allow state agencies to have their own independent immigration detention centres. The lawsuit states that Congress requires the Department of Homeland Security to take custody and control of all detainees.
“They are claiming these 287(g) contracts to operate fully national immigration detention centres. That’s something that has never been done before. That’s what federal law and these agreements allow,” Greer said.
While in Orlando on Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis will be working on the role of state authorities and federal staff at current or future state-run immigration detention centers.
“Our role is to provide more space to handle detention that leads to deportation. The DHS will determine who enters those facilities and who leaves those facilities,” Desantis said.
The governor did not specifically mention the lawsuit, but addressed some of the concerns listed in the legal claims.
“We’re not the ones who actually remove them and send them back to our home country,” DeSantis said.
The suit also argues that the 287(g) contract does not give agents the power to delegate powers to private contractors. This is addressing states that partner with private companies and personnel to help operate immigrant facilities.
Larry Keefe, executive director of the Florida Immigration Executive Committee, promoted the 287(g) contract and the partnership between state and federal officials at a press conference.
“Everyone has seen Wannial Catraz. We’ve got a deportation depot, but it’s all about discovering, sorting, processing, detaining and deporting on a mass scale, humanitarian, safe, legal and connecting all these moving parts together,” Keefe said.
The case comes as operations at the immigration facility have ended following a judge’s order arising from another case in order to demolish parts of the facility. The judge also banned detention of additional immigrants at the facility.
The Associated Press received an email from Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Emergency Management Department. The AP said an email message starting on August 22nd said the facility was likely to be vacant soon.
The governor was asked about the email at a press conference about the report.
“They are deporting them (DHS) very quickly, and that’s a good thing. That’s what we want. No one decides who enters the facility. Obviously there’s a lawsuit that says DHS is a party.
There is another federal lawsuit filed over a claim in which immigrants did not have sufficient access to legal counsel.
