Environmental Groups Challenge Trump Administration’s Detention Center Plan
A collection of environmental organizations expressed their opposition on Friday to the Trump administration’s proposal to establish a new detention center in the Everglades, which some critics have dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”
The groups have filed a lawsuit aimed at halting the administration’s plans for a facility at Florida Airfield.
“This enormous detention center threatens to dismantle one of the most recognized ecosystems globally,” stated Elise Bennett from Florida and the Caribbean director of the Center for Biodiversity.
“This reckless assault on the Everglades, which is essential for Florida, endangers sensitive waters and could increase the risk of Florida Panthers becoming roadkill. Building such a facility in the Everglades makes no sense, but doing it for any reason feels particularly egregious.”
Florida Attorney General James Usmieire pointed out the area’s isolation and its proximity to dangerous wildlife as notable benefits for considering construction there.
“This 30-square-mile site is entirely encircled by the Everglades, which provides an economical way to set up temporary detention centers, as there’s little investment required for boundary security,” he explained. “If individuals venture outside, they’ll likely encounter crocodiles and pythons rather than other people.”
Environmental advocates contend that the project breaches the National Environmental Policy Act and proper rule-making procedures.
“The choice to establish a mass immigration detention and deportation center at the TNT location was made without conducting necessary environmental reviews mandated by NEPA, and outside of public discussions or compliance with other federal regulations like the Endangered Species Act and local land use laws,” they argued.
Projected costs for the facility are around $450 million annually, sourced from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which previously provided shelter for asylum seekers during the Biden era.
The Trump administration envisions the site primarily as a series of tents alongside various other structures, aiming to accommodate as many as 5,000 immigrants.
