DeSantis pushes back against Democratic lawmakers in "Alligator Alcatraz" access controversy

Legal Battle Over Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” Intensifies as Lawmakers Denied Entry

State Rejects Lawmakers’ Claim to Enter Detention Facility Freely:

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration has strongly opposed a lawsuit brought by Democratic state legislators who are seeking entry to a controversial migrant-detention center located deep within the Everglades. Officials argue that the lawmakers have no legal right to enter the facility whenever they choose, despite claims that the denial violates state oversight laws.

1. DeSantis Administration Rejects Democrats’ Access to “Alligator Alcatraz” Detention Site

Unannounced Visit Triggers Legal Battle:

The standoff began in July when five Democratic lawmakers arrived at the site without prior notice and were turned away. They later filed a lawsuit, saying the denial violated both constitutional protections and a Florida law that allows lawmakers access to correctional facilities for monitoring purposes.

State: Facility Is Not a Prison and Doesn’t Fall Under Access Laws:

In a formal response filed in Leon County Circuit Court, the governor's lawyers, along with Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, argued that lawmakers had exceeded their authority.

According to the filing, "Alligator Alcatraz" does not qualify as a state correctional facility because it is not part of the criminal justice system. Instead, the state describes it as a short-term civil detention facility used by federal authorities to temporarily hold immigrants before deportation proceedings.

Lawmakers Say Oversight Is Part of Their Duty:

The legislators Sen. Shevrin Jones, Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, Rep. Anna Eskamani, Rep. Angie Nixon, and Rep. Michelle Renner say they visited on July 3 to review the use of public funds and assess security measures. Their petition argues that an unannounced inspection aligns with their statutory responsibilities as state officials.

Case Moves from Supreme Court to Circuit Court:

The lawsuit, originally filed in the Florida Supreme Court on July 10, sought writs of quo warranto to grant lawmakers the right to use the facility without prior notice.
Although the Supreme Court did not rule on the merits, it did remand the case to the lower court for further consideration.

Limited Tours Provided, But Democrats Say Questions Remain:

Amid growing controversy, select members of the Legislature and Congress were later allowed to tour the facility. However, Democratic lawmakers have called the visits too restrictive and say they have not achieved full transparency. Their lawsuit also raises broader constitutional issues, arguing that denying access interferes with the legislature’s independence as an equal branch of government.

Administration Argues Individual Lawmakers Lack Investigative Powers:

In their response, DeSantis’ legal team stressed that while state law gives the Legislature and its committees oversight authority, individual lawmakers cannot conduct their own investigations. They argue that the petitioners not the governor are trying to stretch the limits of legislative power.

A Facility Built to Support Trump-Era Immigration Plans:

The detention center, located at the remote Dade Collier Training and Transition Airport, opened earlier this year as Florida officials sought to help former President Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations of immigrants. The facility’s location, surrounded by the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve, has also sparked several legal challenges in federal court.