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Several Democratic lawmakers visited “Alligator Alcatraz,” a new state-run illegal alien detention center near the Everglades.
The visit comes in response to what officials call “deeply troubling developments” at the facility. State Sens. Shevrin Jones and Carlos Guillermo Smith were joined by Reps. Anna Eskamani, Angie Nixon, and Michele Rayner.
“On the eve of America’s Independence Day, these Democrat politicians are choosing to defend criminal illegal aliens over American citizens,” Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “They should stop staging political stunts for 15 minutes of fame and start working with President Trump and Secretary Noem to keep Americans safe. If these lawmakers want a tour of Alligator Alcatraz, they will need to reach out to the Florida Department of State.”
The visit follows President Trump’s recent tour of the site with Gov. Ron DeSantis and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Democrats claim illegal aliens were moved in Wednesday night despite flooding from heavy rain. They claimed the storm raised serious concerns about safety and emergency preparedness at the newly opened facility.
“We are exercising our legal authority as state legislators to inspect this remote, taxpayer-funded facility at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport,” the lawmakers wrote in a joint statement. “This is not a federal project — it is fully funded, operated, and approved by the State of Florida under Governor DeSantis. And what’s happening here is un-American. Alligator Alcatraz represents a makeshift detention camp of cruelty, rooted in a corrupt, no-bid, $450 million pay-for-play scheme to enrich GOP donors under the pretense of border enforcement.”
The Democrats also wrote in their statement: “What we’re witnessing isn’t about security or solving problems — it’s about inhumane political theater that endangers real people. Reports of extreme heat, flooding, structural issues, environmental threats, and human rights violations demand immediate oversight. As lawmakers, we have both the legal right and moral responsibility to inspect this site, demand answers, and expose this abuse before it becomes the national blueprint. So much of this is also a distraction from the everyday issues all Floridians are facing, like housing affordability and the property insurance crisis,” they added. “DeSantis should be focused on solving those issues, not creating even more chaos.”
Alongside the lawmakers’ visit, environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit demanding a pause in construction to assess potential ecological impacts. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin dismissed the suit as “lazy,” arguing the land has already been developed for a decade.
Access DENIED!
Florida law gives legislators the authority to make unannounced visits to state-run facilities — to inspect conditions and check on the wellbeing of the people inside. I’ve served in the Legislature for 13 years, and this has never happened. pic.twitter.com/DiyIcOfnV0
— Shevrin “Shev” Jones (@ShevrinJones) July 3, 2025
