Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has pledged to continue his deportation through “Crocodile Alcatraz” after the judge ruled that he would vacate his property.
Everglades Wannial Cutraz protesters gather at the site of President Donald Trump’s visit
Everglades Wannial Cutraz protesters gather at the site of President Donald Trump’s visit
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state would find a way to keep immigrants detained at Everglades facilities, despite the August 21 court ordering Florida to halt construction, stopping the introduction of new detainees and opening operations at mass detention centers known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
“We tried to confuse Apple’s cart regarding Alligator Alcatraz’s South Florida deportation and detainee center,” DeSantis said at a Panama City press conference on August 22.
US District Judge Kathleen Williams ordered a temporary injunction indicating that DeSantis and President Donald Trump should pack all trucks, bags, tarpaulins, fences and people and open their property.
Supporters have seen the ruling as a victory, at least for now.
“It’s a victory for the environment,” said Betty Osecola, an influential member of the Mikcauchy tribe of Florida Indians. “And we need to take a stand to continue this fight, as we know so well that the state and federal government will continue our efforts to appeal this decision.”
Miccosukee bookings were just a few miles from the jailhouse, which was previously a flight training center run by Miami-Dade County.
The property is adjacent to Big Cypress National Reserve and Everglades National Park.
The rule comes from a June 27 lawsuit filed by the Everglades Friends of Everglades, the Center for Biodiversity and added by the Mikkoski tribe of the Florida Indians. Defendants in the case include the Florida Department of Emergency Management, the Department of Homeland Security, ICE and Miami-Dade County.
Desantis declared a state of emergency to avoid a period of staff reviews and public comment on the facility, saying the need for detention centres is too big to wait for a typical review process. Construction began in June.
The governor said he continues to commit to the facility.
“We are in a position to lead the national effort to help the Trump administration remove these illegal foreigners not only from Florida but from our country,” he said.
The second lawsuit deals with access to lawyers
In another case, detainees held at the facility accused them of being nearly impossible to speak privately with lawyers or even find out which immigration officers could hear their case.
The plaintiff’s attorney filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida, including Miami-Dade County, but state and federal officials argued that it should be filed in the Central District of Florida, including Collier County, where the facility is located.
In that case, on a 47-page order issued on August 18th, District Judge Rodolfo Lewis agreed and moved the case to the Central District. He also said they were denied by a federal court ruling that dismissed the immigration court motion for the suit and designated a judge at the Chrome North Processing Service Center as the head of the detainee’s case.
Desantis said the latest ruling on “Aligator Alcatraz” would not affect the operation.
“This is not going to stop us,” he said, “We’re going to continue our deportation and this mission.”
Breaking News and Visuals Editor Stacey Henson contributed to this report.
