U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and other state Democratic congressional lawmakers recently introduced the No Cages in the Everglades Act, which aims to defund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's illegal migrant detention center in the Everglades, better known as "Alligator Alcatraz."
In a release, the Democratic Congressional delegation called Alligator Alcatraz "lawless" and "inhumane," while demanding more robust access and public data of the center and other similar facilities.
"Trump and Ron DeSantis have exploited legal ambiguity around this Everglades internment camp to avoid any scrutiny of abuses there," Wasserman Schultz said. "Our bill would shut down this atrocity, strengthen oversight of detention facilities nationwide, and mandate public reporting on costs, conditions, and the treatment of detainees at this detention site, as well as report on any harms to the environment and nearby lands. The public deserves the full truth about what's happening in and around this facility and they deserve accountability for any laws broken."
U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor, Frederica Wilson, Lois Frankel, Darren Soto, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Maxwell Frost, and Jared Moskowitz also supported the legislation.
"This place needs to be shut the hell down — and Republicans need to be held accountable," Schultz added.
On the contrary, the Republican Party of Florida criticized Rep. Schultz on her legislation in a post on Friday.
"When Obama caged up kids in inhumane conditions, @DWStweets did nothing," the Republican Party of Florida said. "But now she’s outraged… because criminal illegal aliens are locked up? Spare us the fake outrage. This is peak Democrat hypocrisy."
Alligator Alcatraz was first pitched by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on June 19 as a way to massively expedite illegal migrants out of the country. The facility officially opened on July 1 to the delight of Florida Republicans, with migrants arriving a few days later.
