Photo: simpson33 / iStock / Getty Images
Ochopee, FL - Florida's Democratic congressional delegation has introduced legislation to prevent federal agencies from operating or funding the Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention facility located in the Everglades, amid reports of unsafe and unsanitary conditions including inadequate access to water, medical care, and legal support for detainees.
The bill, led by Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who described the conditions as an outrage, also calls for greater transparency and oversight of detention centers nationwide.
Representative Maxwell Frost stated that Floridians should feel ashamed about people being held in such cages, highlighting concerns from a recent congressional visit where access to detainees was denied.
Critics, including environmental groups and tribal leaders, have emphasized the facility's negative impact on the ecosystem and endangered species.
The measure has support from advocacy organizations but faces challenges in the Republican-controlled House.