TALHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Gov. Ron DeSantis has even advocated that controversial crocodile Alcatraz detainees will be treated fairly and provide free flights to the home. However, after touring the facility itself, Capitol Hill Democrats want to close Wannial Catraz.
“This needs to be shut down now,” said US president Kathy Caster (D-Tampa).
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Frederica Wilson, (FL-24) Royce Frankel (FL-22), Darren Soto (FL-9), Sheila Chelfils-McCormick (FL-20), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Maxwell Moskowitz (FL-23) have been registered. DHS and ICE are attempting to block detention centre operations or funding centres in or near the Everglades.
“We honestly want to cut off funds to prevent governors and states from abuse their power.”
Gallery: Look inside the Alcatraz Crocodile
The bill also aims to ensure Congress’ access to inspect all immigration detention sites and require a federal investigation of facilities on environmental impacts, conditions and costs.
Lawmakers returning to Sunshine State also stand behind those efforts, saying the facility was built under a 2023 emergency order by DeSantis and is now outdated.
“I think at this moment of crisis, there is a need for a lawsuit filed with an emergency injunction to stop the governor’s ability to weaponize this outdated executive order,” state Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) said.
The site also says what lawmakers are saying has disappeared. Eskamania shared a document on X showing excessive pay and construction spending.
“When you start moving and start removing things from websites and things of that nature, all you’re doing is telling people that you know there’s something terrible going on,” state Sen. Shevlin Jones (D-Miami Garden)
The lawyer said a 15-year-old boy was temporarily detained at Alligator Alcatraz.
But DeSantis and the Republican state senator continue to defend the operation, saying critics are distorting the facts.
“They just oppose the closed border. They are opposed to illegal aliens removed from the US, so they are trying to find an excuse to camouflage the fact that they are in a very unpopular position,” DeSantis said.
“This is a transitional facility for repatriation people to the record home and we cannot forget that these are illegal immigrants. Some people chose to come here and the people at this facility committed a real crime.”
So, what’s next for the state legislators?
The committee week begins in October. That means build draft opportunities will open in the coming weeks.
State Democrats say laws could be introduced requiring more surveillance.
