A coalition of groups, including environmental activists and Native Americans, protested the construction of an immigrant detention center in the Florida Everglades on Saturday. The facility, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” is expected to house 5,000 detained immigrants by early July.
Protesters lined U.S. Highway 41 near the airstrip where the compound will be built, waving signs that called for the protection of the preserve and its native wildlife. Environmental degradation and concerns over immigration raids in South Florida also fueled their opposition.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has pushed ahead with the project under emergency powers, despite objections from local officials and activists. The facility’s proponents claim it is an ideal location due to its proximity to alligators and other reptiles, but Native American leaders see it as an encroachment on their sacred homelands.
Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit to halt the detention center plans, citing concerns over wetland impacts and human rights abuses. Until the site undergoes a comprehensive environmental review, protesters argue that construction should pause.
The potential environmental hazards pose significant risks to the tourism industry and local residents, who already face air pollution and noise from the facility’s operations. Proponents of the project have dismissed these concerns, but critics say it is “damning evidence” of state and federal agencies’ willingness to prioritize politics over public health and safety.
As the construction nears completion, protesters remain determined to raise awareness about the issue and protect the Everglades and its inhabitants from the invasive facility.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/alligator-alcatraz-florida-everglades-protest-db34866aae64a3ff6880310403be40fd