A bipartisan delegation of lawmakers visited Florida’s controversial new immigration detention site, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” for the first time on Saturday, with Democrats demanding its closure and Republicans defending its conditions.
The facility — a sprawling pop-up tent center deep in the Florida Everglades — was rapidly constructed under Governor Ron DeSantis as part of Florida’s partnership with President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration agenda. The site currently detains migrants awaiting deportation, and has drawn intense scrutiny for its secrecy and alleged mistreatment of detainees.
Over the weekend, five members of Congress and about 20 state legislators were finally granted access following weeks of denied entry, protests, and a lawsuit. President Trump, Gov. DeSantis, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem toured the facility earlier this month before detainees arrived.
Starkly Divided Impressions
After the tour, Democratic lawmakers painted a disturbing picture, citing overcrowding, excessive heat, and inadequate food and water.
“They are essentially packed into cages — wall-to-wall humans, 32 detainees per cage,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who called the facility an “internment camp.”
She and other Democrats argued they were only shown a “sanitized” version of the center, with no direct access to the detainees or their living quarters. Members were instead escorted through food prep areas and a medical tent. Personal electronics were prohibited, and while congressional staff were allowed, state legislators had to attend alone.
Rep. Maxwell Frost said detainees chanted “Libertad” as lawmakers passed by, and expressed frustration that the state refused to answer basic questions — including who operates the facility and under whose authority people are being held.
“ICE is calling the shots, A to Z,” Frost said. “But there’s still so much ambiguity. Is this a state facility? A federal one? It’s unclear.”
Frost said he plans to return unannounced, using his rights as a member of Congress to attempt to speak with detainees or their families directly.
Republicans Defend the Facility
Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers praised the setup, emphasizing order, cleanliness, and security. State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, a close DeSantis ally, dismissed Democratic claims as political posturing.
“It’s all political theater,” he said. “The rhetoric doesn’t match reality. I lay down on one of the beds — it was comfortable. The place is clean, air-conditioned, and well-run.”
State Sen. Jay Collins, a potential pick for lieutenant governor, called it comparable to emergency relief centers and praised the infrastructure, including backup generators and military-style discipline.
“This is one of several stops along the path toward repatriation,” Collins said. “This is not permanent, it’s transitional.”
Under current rules, officials explained, detainees can only be visited if someone requests to see a specific person by name 48 hours in advance — a rule that Republicans said explains why no detainees were made available during the visit.
Environmental and Financial Concerns
Beyond humanitarian concerns, the center — located at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Everglades — has faced environmental lawsuits and criticism for threatening fragile ecosystems and nearby tribal lands. Lawmakers said there was no opportunity during the tour to ask about the facility’s environmental impact.
Democratic House Leader Fentrice Driskell also questioned the cost of the operation, citing an estimated $450 million annual price tag. It remains unclear how much of the cost, if any, will be reimbursed by the federal government.
“We’re talking about tents, metal cots with thin mattresses and jail-like bathrooms,” Driskell said, noting the lack of answers about contractors, costs, or charges against detainees beyond illegal entry.
Driskell also said her group’s tour was cut short due to a mysterious security issue, adding to the sense that the visit was tightly choreographed and curated.
The Political Divide
When asked why Republicans and Democrats walked away with vastly different accounts, Driskell offered a stark explanation:
“If you’re not already troubled by the idea of rounding up immigrants — even those who haven’t committed crimes — then what we saw might not bother you. But for the rest of us, it’s unacceptable.”
While Republicans champion the facility as a model of immigration enforcement, Democrats are escalating their calls for its closure — and promise more oversight and confrontation ahead.
