Florida Democrats to Inspect New Detention Center Amid Controversy

A group of Democratic lawmakers is scheduled to visit a new detention center near the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida. The visit, described as an "official legislative site visit," is in response to concerns about the state-run immigrant detention facility.

The delegation includes Florida state Senators Shevrin Jones and Carlos Guillermo Smith, along with state representatives Anna Eskamani, Angie Nixon, and Michele Rayner. The visit follows a tour of the site by former President Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Democrats have raised concerns about the facility, alleging that illegal immigrants were transferred there recently when the site was flooded due to rain. They claim the rain exacerbated safety and emergency readiness concerns.

The lawmakers stated they are exercising their legal authority to inspect the taxpayer-funded facility. They described the center as a "makeshift detention camp of cruelty," and criticized the project as a "pay-for-play scheme." The property is intended to house 5,000 ICE detainees.

The lawmakers also stated that the project is a distraction from everyday issues facing Floridians, such as housing affordability and the property insurance crisis.

The visit follows a similar incident where Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested at an ICE detention center. In addition, several environmental groups have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to halt construction to assess the potential environmental impacts.