Florida Democrats Introduce Bill to Close Alligator Alcatraz Detention Facility

Florida Democrats, led by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, have introduced the "No Cages in the Everglades Act" to shut down and defund the controversial immigration detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz, located in the Everglades. The bill seeks to prevent the Department of Homeland Security and ICE from operating or funding this and any similar facilities near the Everglades, while increasing federal oversight and transparency regarding detainee treatment, costs, environmental impact, and conditions. Lawmakers and advocates have raised alarms about inhumane and unsanitary conditions, including overcrowding, lack of clean water, medical care, legal support, and flooding risks, with some detainees reportedly packed into cages and exposed to feces. The facility was established under a 2023 emergency order by Governor Ron DeSantis and is state-funded with anticipated federal reimbursement, but Democratic lawmakers accuse DeSantis and President Trump of exploiting legal ambiguities to avoid scrutiny. Despite bipartisan opposition and environmental concerns from tribal leaders and human rights groups, the bill faces significant obstacles in the Republican-controlled House. Florida Democrats emphasize the need for accountability and transparency, calling the detention center a cruelty and an ecological disaster that must be stopped immediately.