Environmental groups try blocking Trump's 'Alligator Alcatraz' with last-minute lawsuit
Multiple environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit Friday alleging personnel did not evaluate ecologic impacts when constructing Alligator Alcatraz an illegal immigrant detention center near the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve The lawsuit filed by Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity in the Southern District of Florida aims to pause construction at the federal site which is being built at the reportedly unoccupied Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport It's a lazy lawsuit and it ignores the fact that this land has already been developed for a decade Department of Homeland Safety Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin advised Fox News Digital FLORIDA BUILDING 'ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ' WHERE ICE DETAINEES FACE NATURE'S OWN SAFEGUARD SYSTEMThe -square-mile property will be home to ICE detainees and is guarded by alligators and pythons The Trump administration declared Tuesday it had approved the project and crews started working on the transformation Monday Attorneys allege the installation of housing units the construction of sanitation and food services systems lighting infrastructure diesel power generators and the use of the runway to conveyance detainees pose clear environmental harms according to a FOX Tampa Bay description Environmental groups and Native Americans who live in the reserve protested outside the airport Saturday calling on functionaries to protect their homeland from additional contamination TRUMP ADMINISTRATION APPROVES ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ WHERE ICE DETAINEES FACE NATURE'S OWN SAFEGUARD SYSTEM The defendants in their rush to build the center have unlawfully bypassed the required environmental reviews according to court documents The direct and indirect harm to nearby wetlands wildlife and air and water quality and feasible alternatives to the action must be considered under NEPA National Environmental Program Act before acting Lawyers also accused functionaries of violating Miami-Dade County code and noted Crisis Management's lack of authority to construct and manage a correctional center according to the review Florida Gov Ron DeSantis stated Fox News' Fox Friends Friday that illegal immigrants could begin arriving by Tuesday clarifying no permanent changes would be made UNCLE SAM S DEVIL S ISLAND FROM AL CAPONE TO MACHINE GUN KELLY MEET ALCATRAZ S THE GREATER PART INFAMOUS INMATES It s all temporary DeSantis reported We ll set it up and we ll break it down This isn t our first rodeo The impact will be zero He added the center will be a force multiplier aiding in the enforcement of President Donald Trump s mandate Funded by the state the center will cost about million to operate annually with Federal Exigency Management Agency FEMA reimbursements As the lawsuit seeking an injunction moves its way through the courts work is continuing at the site FOX shared The suit names Homeland Assurance Secretary Kristi Noem U S Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons Florida Crisis Management Director Kevin Guthrie and Miami-Dade County Florida Crisis Management and ICE did not directly respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment Miami-Dade County could not straightaway be reached for comment The Associated Press contributed to this document
