Florida Democratic Lawmakers Sue DeSantis Over Alligator Alcatraz Access

Five Democratic Florida lawmakers have filed a lawsuit against Governor Ron DeSantis and the state's emergency management director for denying them unannounced access to a newly built immigration detention center dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz' in the Everglades, arguing this action violates Florida law and the state constitution. The lawmakers contend that Florida statutes explicitly grant them the right to visit any state detention facility at their discretion, and they accuse the DeSantis administration of deliberately blocking legislative oversight to conceal conditions inside the center, which they describe as a 'modern-day concentration camp' with serious safety concerns. Despite a subsequent invitation from state officials for a scheduled tour, the legislators maintain that such controlled visits do not constitute genuine oversight. Governor DeSantis defended the facility, emphasizing its rapid construction, federal reimbursement, and rejecting the lawmakers' characterization of the site and their motivations as politicized. The lawsuit seeks to affirm the legislature's co-equal authority and prevent what the plaintiffs describe as executive overreach that endangers vulnerable detainees and undermines transparency. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between Florida's executive branch and Democratic legislators over immigration enforcement policies and government accountability.