Florida Highway Protest Against ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

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    A diverse alliance of groups, including environmental advocates and Native American communities concerned with preserving their ancestral lands, gathered at an airfield in the Florida Everglades on Saturday. They were voicing opposition to the planned construction of an immigrant detention center in the region.

    On the well-known U.S. Highway 41, known as Tamiami Trail, which cuts through the wetlands of the Everglades, hundreds of protestors assembled. They were joined by passing cars that expressed their support with honking as demonstrators raised signs urging the preservation of this vital natural area, home to Native tribes and numerous endangered species.

    Christopher McVoy, an ecologist, observed the continuous influx of trucks onto the site during the hours he spent protesting. His primary concern was the potential environmental degradation, though apprehensions regarding possible immigration raids in his community also played a significant role in his stance. As a city commissioner in South Florida, McVoy shared, “People I know are in tears, and I wasn’t far from it.”

    Recently, Florida officials have accelerated efforts to construct what is being dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” amidst the steamy swamps of the Everglades. This development is facilitated by an executive order from Governor Ron DeSantis, which enables the state to bypass certain regulatory procurement processes as part of what he perceives as an urgent response to illegal immigration. This has allowed the project to continue despite pushback from Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and other local activists.

    The proposed detention facility is planned to include temporary infrastructure such as robust tents and trailers designated for housing detained immigrants. Projections from the state suggest that by early July, the facility will hold approximately 5,000 immigration detention spaces.

    Advocates for the site have pointed to its setting in the Florida wetlands — notorious for hosting large reptiles like alligators and invasive species such as Burmese pythons — as ideal for a detention center focused on immigration. Governor DeSantis remarked, “Clearly, from a security perspective, if someone escapes, you know, there’s a lot of alligators. No one’s going anywhere.”

    Under DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has adopted a stringent stance on immigration enforcement, aligning with broader federal initiatives to curb illegal immigration. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security supports the development of “Alligator Alcatraz,” with partial funding pledged from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

    Nevertheless, Native American leaders in the area regard this expansion as an infringement upon their revered lands, which inspired the recent protest. The Big Cypress National Preserve, where the airfield is situated, includes numerous traditional Miccosukee and Seminole villages, along with ceremonial sites and burial grounds.

    Concerns have been raised not only about possible violations of human rights regarding the treatment and housing of immigrants but also environmental repercussions. Organizations such as the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Everglades filed a lawsuit on Friday aiming to stop the detention center’s development. Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades, emphasized, “The Everglades is a vast, interconnected system of waterways and wetlands, and what happens in one area can have damaging impacts downstream.”

    In response to the lawsuit, Bryan Griffin, a spokesperson for DeSantis, maintained on Friday that the facility represents a “necessary staging operation for mass deportations located at a preexisting airport that will have no impact on the surrounding environment.”

    Environmental activists argue that construction should be paused until an exhaustive environmental review has been completed and public input has been gathered. Elise Bennett, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, stated that the swift nature of the facility’s establishment serves as “damning evidence” that state and federal bodies expect it to be “too late” to reverse their actions even if ordered by a court.

    Beyond environmental dangers, the potential disruptions affect the broader aspects of life in the Everglades, including its vibrant tourism industry. This area attracts many hikers and visitors who navigate the marshlands via airboats. Jessica Namath, founder of Floridians for Public Lands, who was also present at the protest, believes situating a detention center in this setting risks making it less inviting for visitors and perpetuates the misguided notion of the site being in a remote location. She noted, “Everybody out here sees the exhaust fumes, sees the oil slicks on the road; you know, they hear the sound and the noise pollution. You can imagine what it looks like at nighttime, and we’re in an international dark sky area.” Namath finished by expressing her frustration over the disconnect between politicians and the impacts on the environment.