Protests Erupt Over Immigration Detention Center in Florida

On Saturday, a large group of individuals filled Florida’s highways to voice their opposition against the construction of an immigration detention facility, often referred to as “Crocodile Alcatraz.”

Demonstrators gathered along U.S. Highway 41, which runs through the Everglades along the Tamiami Trail. The protests saw participation from Native Americans defending their ancestral lands and environmental activists advocating for the protection of their community and the heritage of Indigenous tribes, as reported.

“We have to defend all of us,” said a protester in a video shared online. The footage depicted protesters standing on both sides of the road, where a dump truck was delivering materials. Cars were seen passing by, some displaying signs and American flags.

One participant remarked, “Whether you’ve found your spiritual place in a church or somewhere else, please pray for those lost so they can regain their humanity.”

Ecologist Christopher McVoy, conversing with reporters, emphasized that environmental concerns were his primary motivation for joining the protest. He expressed worry regarding the effects of immigration policy in South Florida, adding, “People I know are in tears over this. I wasn’t far from that myself.”

The protest gained momentum, especially among local Native American leaders who see the facility’s construction as an infringement on their land, rich with burial grounds and sacred sites.

The Biological Diversity Center and Friends of the Everglades filed a lawsuit on Friday, aiming to halt construction due to potential negative impacts on the environment. The executive director pointed out, “The Everglades are interconnected. What happens in one part can have effects downstream.”

Florida Attorney General James Usmieyer initially proposed the Alligator Alcatraz facility in early June, envisioning it as a place to detain immigrants at an old airport within the Everglades.

He remarked about the facility’s location: “Miami-Dade Collier Training Facility is essentially an abandoned airport in the heart of the Everglades.” The Attorney General emphasized Florida’s commitment to immigration enforcement and support for the Trump administration’s initiatives to detain undocumented individuals.

The proposal emerged following a directive from Governor Ron DeSantis, who encouraged state officials to identify locations for temporary detention centers. Usmieyer asserted that the facility could become operational within a couple of months after construction begins.

Describing the site, he mentioned that, “It offers a cost-effective solution for temporary detention since there’s not much need for barriers. The only things out there are alligators and pythons—the detainees won’t be going anywhere.”