Florida Democratic lawmakers are raising alarms over conditions at the state's new immigration detention center that the administration is calling Alligator Alcatraz after seeing the conditions of the Everglades facility for themselves in what they called a quote sanitized tour on Saturday since the administration knew they were coming. People held at the 30,000 bed center the state rapidly built on an isolated airirstrip surrounded by swamp land have told the Associated Press that worms turn up in the food ...

Environmental Concerns - Friends of the Everglades is suing to block the construction of a mass detention center, referred to as "Alligator Alcatraz," in the Everglades [1][3] - The site is located within Big Cypress National Preserve, near Everglades National Park, and is considered ecologically sensitive with over 96% wetlands [2][5] - Concerns include light pollution impacting dark skies three miles away, potential harm to endangered species, and detrimental impacts to wetlands critical for water supply [5][7][10] - Environmental groups argue that no thorough environmental review was conducted before construction began, violating federal law [2][6] Logistical and Humanitarian Issues - The detention center is being built in a flood-prone area with hot, humid conditions, bugs, and storms, especially concerning as hurricane season approaches [9][10] - There has been no public discussion or input on flood mitigation measures [10] Legal Action - A federal lawsuit has been filed seeking an injunction to halt activity at the site [12]