Environmental activists filed a lawsuit Friday to stop the construction of a novel detention center for foreigners in Florida’s swamp.
The Trump administration previously lit green on Florida Attorney General James Usmierer’s proposal to build an immigration detention center in the Everglades, known as “Crocodile Alcatraz.” However, shortly after the announcement that the federal government would help fund the efforts, two major environmental groups You are trying to block Its structure. (Related: Foreigners kick CBP dogs during search and are launched from us)
According to a press release from the organization, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Center for Friends of the Everglades filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Friday to halt the implementation of the “reckless plan.”
“The site is more than 96% wetlands surrounded by the Big Cypress National Reserve and is home to the endangered Florida Panther and other iconic species.” Evesampus, executive director of Friends at the Everglades, said in an official statement.
390936 05: Alligator rests on a rock in a small pond on June 21, 2001 at Seminole Ocarry Indian Village in Hollywood, Florida. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
“The scheme is not only cruel, but also threatens the Everglades ecosystem, which has spent billions on protecting state and federal taxpayers,” Sample continued. “Friends of the Everglades was founded in 1969 by Marjory Stoneman Douglas and stopped the harmful development at this location. Fifty-six years later, the threat has returned. And it poses another existential threat to the Everglades. ”
The lawsuit Friday named the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office, the Florida Emergency Management Department and Miami-Dade County as defendants. Court documents. Environmental groups claim that the plan has not experienced any environmental reviews that require it or have not given the public a chance to comment.
“This massive detention center will destroy one of the world’s most iconic ecosystems,” said Elise Bennett, Florida and the director and lawyer for the Caribbean Center for Biodiversity, in a prepared statement. “For some reason, it makes no sense to build something essentially a new development for the Everglades, but this reason is particularly despicable. ”
Uthmeier first proposed the Wannial Catraz idea in early June. The project is attempting to turn virtually abandoned airfields into large detention centers, helping the Trump administration continue to meet its unprecedented immigration enforcement goals.
A spokesman for Uthmeier’s office did not respond to requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The Everglades, a large area of flooded grasslands in southern Florida, is about 1.5 million acres; It is estimated to be retained Over 200,000 Crocodiles – make it a dangerous effort to escape on foot. The project is expected to cost around $450 million a year and will feature 5,000 beds to house illegal immigrants and other foreigners under federal immigration detention.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed support for the project in an official statement Monday, adding that it will at least be funded primarily by FEMA’s Shelter and Services program.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we work at Turbospeed, providing a cost-effective and innovative way to realize Americans’ missions against the massive deportation of criminal illegal aliens,” Noem previously said. “Thanks to our partnership with Florida, we will be expanding our facilities and bed space in just a few days.”
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation is an independent, nonpartisan newswire service that is free to use for legitimate news publishers that can provide large audiences. All republished articles must include logos, reporter signatures and DCNF affiliation. For questions regarding our guidelines or partnerships with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
