Protesters in downtown Miami, Everglades decry Trump, ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ as guard gates go up

OCHOPEE Fla WSVN Demonstrators came together in downtown Miami and the Florida Everglades to sound off about the newly opened immigration detention facility dubbed Alligator Alcatraz Passionate protests were held on a soggy Fourth of July in front of the Torch of Friendship on Biscayne Boulevard and outside the detention center along U S in Ochopee News cameras captured giant guard gates going up outside of the facility Back in downtown Miami around protesters railed against President Donald Trump and Alligator Alcatraz You re showing the leadership a speaker using a bullhorn described demonstrators I think it s inhumane It s right in the middle of the Everglades This is very reminiscent to honestly Auschwitz because there s only one way and one way out explained a protester who identified himself as Gabriel Don t get spoiled into believing that it can t happen here Not only can it happen here it s happening here reported another demonstrator Just after p m News cameras captured at least people holding signs near the entrance to Alligator Alcatraz They did not chant however as their protest is silent The protests take place as approximately U S Marines from the corps air station in North Carolina are being deployed to Florida to augment the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement However it will be mostly logistical help not necessarily boots on the ground Thursday afternoon Democratic lawmakers requested to get their boots on the ground at Alligator Alcatraz but they were turned away at the entrance News cameras rolled as state senators and representatives were denied access to the facility Mike Jachles a spokesperson for the Florida Division of Crisis Management spoke with the lawmakers He tried to give them contact information for someone they could reach to discuss the matter You can call him and email him now announced Jachles No noted Florida State Rep Michele Rayner I will give you his number I m just relaying the message to try to accommofate you announced Jachles Right now I was communicated that I could give you a phone number or I could call somebody else disclosed another official at the facility So unfortunately that s not the law reported Rayner Florida State Sen Carlos Guillermo Smith explained they had a right to enter the detention center citing Florida Statutes and We have the statutory authority under Florida law not only to visit our state prisons without providing notice but also to visit our municipal detention facilities as well he declared Speaking with reporters later the state lawmakers voiced concerns over how Alligator Alcatraz was made and who s being brought there This did not go through the test of sitting through committee nor did it go through the test of being debated in the chambers and so because of that that s why we re here mentioned Jones Protesters comments in downtown Miami echoed the Democratic lawmakers concerns You would not want your own family members there if they were accused of committing a crime revealed Gabriel