ORLANDO, Fla. (RTW News) — U.S. government lawyers have revealed that detainees at the immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz', likely include individuals who have never been in removal proceedings. This statement contradicts Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's claims since the facility's opening in July.
In a recent court filing, attorneys for the U.S. Department of Justice argued that the detainees at 'Alligator Alcatraz' do not share enough common immigration statuses to be certified as a single class in a lawsuit regarding their access to legal counsel. 'The proposed class includes all detainees at Alligator Alcatraz, a facility that houses individuals at various stages of immigration processing, presumably including those without prior removal proceedings', the DOJ lawyers noted.
During past public statements, DeSantis maintained that all detainees had undergone a legal procedure that determined their inability to remain in the U.S. At a July 25 press conference outside the facility, he stated, 'Everybody here is already on a final removal order.' Similarly, in a later speech, he stated, 'The people that are going to the Alligator Alcatraz are illegally in the country.'
Notably, this controversy is part of a federal lawsuit brought by civil rights groups alleging that the detainment center restricts detainees' access to attorneys contrary to their constitutional rights. They have asked a federal judge for a preliminary injunction for improved protections for detainees' legal meetings.
The 'Alligator Alcatraz' facility has been caught in the crosshairs of multiple legal actions concerning its environmental impact and the treatment of its detainees. Although a federal judge ordered a wind-down of operations due to environmental concerns, actions continued after an appellate court stayed that order.
Moreover, the center's operational backstory features President Donald Trump's visit in July, where he suggested that its model could be replicated nationwide to facilitate increased deportations.
As the situation evolves, questions remain about the true status of the detainees at the facility and the broader implications for Florida's immigration enforcement policies.
In a recent court filing, attorneys for the U.S. Department of Justice argued that the detainees at 'Alligator Alcatraz' do not share enough common immigration statuses to be certified as a single class in a lawsuit regarding their access to legal counsel. 'The proposed class includes all detainees at Alligator Alcatraz, a facility that houses individuals at various stages of immigration processing, presumably including those without prior removal proceedings', the DOJ lawyers noted.
During past public statements, DeSantis maintained that all detainees had undergone a legal procedure that determined their inability to remain in the U.S. At a July 25 press conference outside the facility, he stated, 'Everybody here is already on a final removal order.' Similarly, in a later speech, he stated, 'The people that are going to the Alligator Alcatraz are illegally in the country.'
Notably, this controversy is part of a federal lawsuit brought by civil rights groups alleging that the detainment center restricts detainees' access to attorneys contrary to their constitutional rights. They have asked a federal judge for a preliminary injunction for improved protections for detainees' legal meetings.
The 'Alligator Alcatraz' facility has been caught in the crosshairs of multiple legal actions concerning its environmental impact and the treatment of its detainees. Although a federal judge ordered a wind-down of operations due to environmental concerns, actions continued after an appellate court stayed that order.
Moreover, the center's operational backstory features President Donald Trump's visit in July, where he suggested that its model could be replicated nationwide to facilitate increased deportations.
As the situation evolves, questions remain about the true status of the detainees at the facility and the broader implications for Florida's immigration enforcement policies.
