Democrats called for a shutdown of ‘Alligator Alcatraz' after ‘staged' visit
But Democrats, including Rep. Maxwell Frost, accused the state of obscuring potentially dangerous and unsanitary conditions.
In the future, Frost said he plans to show up unannounced — an ability members of Congress have for federal facilities — to speak with family members of those detained. He also criticized the arrangement between Florida and federal officials on who is actually running the facility.
'There was so much ambiguity on under what authority people are being held here, and whether this is a state facility or federal facility,' he said. 'What we heard was very clear: ICE is giving them the directions from A to Z.'
Democratic members of Congress said they'd already planned on showing up at the facility unannounced on Saturday before the DeSantis administration announced official tours. State Democratic lawmakers showed up uninvited on July 3, but were turned away because of security concerns. They sued in response.
Many of those lawmakers returned for Saturday's tour, including state Sens. Shevrin Jones of Miami Gardens and Carlos Guillermo Smith and state Rep. Anna Eskamani, both of Orlando.
'Alligator Alcatraz' has drawn backlash among environmentalists — who have sued to try to stop it — as well as Democratic lawmakers and even some Republicans who privately conceded they're worried about the area's fragile ecosystem and effects on tribal lands. But lawmakers told POLITICO they didn't have time to ask questions about the environment.
Democratic state House leader Fentrice Driskell drew attention to how expensive she said the facility was to the state in an interview, which is estimated to cost $450 million a year. It's not clear how much of the expenses will ultimately be reimbursed by the federal government, and an email to the state's emergency division inquiring was not immediately returned.
'We are talking about tents, metal bedding with very thin mattresses and pillows,' Driskell said, adding that restrooms and showers were 'jail-like.'
Members did not get many questions answered, she said, and were instead encouraged to file public records requests when they asked about which contractors were hired to provide services and what kinds of crimes detainees had been accused of committing, other than illegal border entry.
Driskell said her tour was abruptly cut short due to a security issue that they didn't get any additional information about. Her group had a dozen lawmakers present, and she accused the state of trying to 'put its best foot forward' and that the tour was 'pre-planned and staged.'
Asked why Republicans had such vastly different impressions, Driskell replied: 'If you only see what was shown and don't have a problem already with rounding up immigrants — even if some of them have not committed crimes — then you would be OK with what you saw.'
Kimberly Leonard reported from Miami.
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