Protests Erupt Over Everglades Detention Center Construction

A diverse coalition of groups gathered on Saturday near an airstrip in the Florida Everglades to protest the impending construction of an immigrant detention center. The groups included environmental activists and Native Americans who are advocating for their ancestral lands.

Hundreds of protesters lined a portion of U.S. Highway 41, also known as Tamiami Trail, as dump trucks transported materials into the airfield. Protesters waved signs, calling for the protection of the Everglades, which is home to several Native tribes and endangered animal species.

An ecologist, Christopher McVoy, observed a continuous flow of trucks entering the site during the protest. He cited environmental degradation as a primary concern, but also expressed opposition due to worries about immigration enforcement in his city.

Florida officials have been rapidly constructing the detention center, referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz,” within the Everglades. The project was expedited under emergency powers granted by an executive order from Governor Ron DeSantis, which addresses what he views as an illegal immigration crisis. This order allows the state to bypass certain purchasing laws, enabling construction despite objections from local officials and activists.

The facility will consist of temporary structures, such as tents and trailers, to house detained immigrants. The state anticipates having 5,000 detention beds operational by early July.

Native American leaders view the construction as an infringement upon their sacred lands, which prompted the protest. The airstrip is located in Big Cypress National Preserve, which is home to numerous Miccosukee and Seminole villages, as well as ceremonial and burial grounds.

Concerns have also been raised regarding human rights and the potential inhumane treatment of immigrants. Environmental impacts are also a major concern, leading groups like the Center for Biological Diversity and the Friends of the Everglades to file a lawsuit to halt the project.

A spokesperson for Governor DeSantis stated that the facility is a "necessary staging operation for mass deportations" located at an existing airport and will have no environmental impact.

Environmental groups are calling for a construction pause until a comprehensive environmental review is conducted and public comment is gathered. They believe the rapid construction is evidence that state and federal agencies hope it will be "too late" to reverse their actions if ordered by a court.