Judge Urged to Visit Controversial Detention Center in Florida Everglades
Lawyers representing individuals held at a Florida immigration detention facility, colloquially known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” have requested that a federal judge conduct an unexpected site visit to evaluate the conditions and legal access provided to detainees. This facility, established recently on a secluded airstrip in the Florida Everglades, has become the focal point of a legal debate over detainees’ rights to meet with their legal representatives.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell was asked to make the visit within two months to determine if the facility permits detainees to consult with their attorneys confidentially and regularly. The facility was constructed by the administration of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis earlier this summer.
The detainees have filed a federal lawsuit claiming that their attorneys must schedule visits three days in advance, unlike at other detention centers where lawyers can visit during designated hours. The lawsuit also highlights that detainees are frequently relocated before scheduled meetings with their attorneys, and that delays in scheduling have prevented timely legal consultations prior to crucial deadlines.
“Federal courts routinely conduct site visits as a valid fact-finding tool, especially in cases involving conditions of confinement,” the detainees’ attorneys noted in their appeal.
However, representatives for the state of Florida have “strenuously” opposed the proposed visit, arguing that a federal judge lacks the jurisdiction to inspect a state-run facility, and that such a visit could pose security threats.
“It would also impose a large burden on facility staff and significantly interrupt the facility’s operations,” Florida’s attorneys stated.
As of Monday, the judge had not made a decision regarding the request. Judge Chappell, who is based in Fort Myers, Florida, had convened a meeting between the detainees’ attorneys and state and federal representatives last week, but the nine-hour discussions did not yield a resolution.
This legal dispute is one of three federal lawsuits challenging the practices at the detention facility. Another lawsuit in Fort Myers contends that immigration falls under federal jurisdiction, and that Florida agencies and their contractors have no legal standing to operate the facility. A judge recently denied the detainees’ plea for a preliminary injunction to shut down the facility.
In a separate lawsuit, a federal judge in Miami ordered the facility to cease operations over a two-month period due to the absence of an environmental impact review. However, this decision was temporarily suspended by an appellate court, allowing the facility to continue functioning.
Detainees have reported unsanitary conditions, including malfunctioning toilets that result in flooding with fecal matter, and pervasive mosquito and insect issues. Former President Donald Trump visited the facility last summer, endorsing it as a potential model for future detention centers amid efforts to expand deportation infrastructure.
For more updates, follow Mike Schneider on Bluesky: @mikeysid.bsky.social
