The construction of the “Alcatraz des Alligators” in Florida could be slowed down

The construction of an improvised detention center for immigrants in the Florida Everglades, called the “Alcatraz of the Alligators”, could be suspended indefinitely. For example, A federal judge examined Wednesday if this project precipitated in a sensitive wetland breaks environmental laws.

Last week. Moreover, federal judge Kathleen Williams ordered a two -week suspension of additional work on the site, until witnesses were heard. Consequently,

This temporary order does not provide for any restrictions on the activities of the police or immigration services.

The first phase of theAlcatraz of alligators Opened in July on the site of a unique. Furthermore, track training airport that is not very busy. Meanwhile, Less than 1000 prisoners were imprisoned there last week. Nevertheless, and the center is designed to accommodate up to 3000 people in the long term.

President Donald Trump visited the center last month. Similarly, suggested that he could serve as a model for future national detention centers, while his administration strives to develop the infrastructure necessary for the increase in expulsions.

Inside the large white tents of the complex, rows of bunk beds are surrounded by wireless cages. The detained persons say that worms are found in food. that the toilet water hunts are blocked and that the floors are flooded with faeces, while mosquitoes and other insects are omnipresent.

Sometimes the air conditioners suddenly stop under the stifling heat. Inmates would spend days without showering. getting medication, and could only speak to their lawyers and loved ones by phone.

450 millions $ US par an

Governor Ron Desantis said that the location in the Everglades. an accident and isolated place, aimed to dissuade escapes, like the island prison construction “alcatraz des alligators” florida in California which inspired the Republicans.

The annual cost of the detention center is estimated at 450 million US dollars, according to a public database.

State. federal government lawyers claim that, although the detention center welcomes federal prisoners, its construction and exploitation are entirely of the competence of the Florida State, which means that a federal environmental assessment would not apply.

However. the complaint filed by environmental groups and the Miccosukee tribe claims that the fact that Florida has built the center has no importance, since federal agencies have jurisdiction in immigration.

Judge Williams said last week that the detention center was at least a partnership between the State. the Federal Government.

The complainants presented witnesses on Wednesday. Thursday, who said that the Center violates the national law on environmental policy, which forces federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of major construction projects.

Ecology. probable obstacle to the Trump project

The complaint asks the judge to make a preliminary injunction to suspend operations and the continuation of construction work, which, according to the complainants, threaten ecologically sensitive wetlands housing protected plants and animals and which annihilate billions of dollars of environmental restoration work.

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Witnesses of environmental groups said that at. least eight hectares of asphalt had been added to the site since the start of construction work by the Florida emergency management division. They argued that additional work could lead to an increase in water runoff to adjacent wetlands. spread harmful chemicals in the Everglades and reduce the habitat of Florida panthers, a threatened species.

Marcel Bozas. director of the Fishing and Wildlife Department of the Miccosukee tribe, said that the members of the tribe hunt and fish for subsistence and cultural reasons.

David Kerner. director of the Department of Road Security and Motorized State vehicles, testified that theAlcatraz of alligators is an establishment managed by the State and argued that Washington does construction “alcatraz des alligators” florida not dictate Florida where to place immigrants. He added that this detention center was necessary to unclog other prisons.

The hearing took place while the DESANTIS administration apparently was preparing to build a second detention center for. migrants in a training center in the Florida National Guard.

A second complaint alleys that the constitutional rights of detainees are violated: they do not have the right to meet a lawyer. are detained without charges and a federal immigration court canceled the hearings of release under bail.