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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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Activities at the site of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention camp being created at an abandoned jetport in the Big Cypress National preserve in eastern Collier County included truck activity into and out of the site amid a protest of the camp by hundreds including Native Americans, conservation groups and others.
Jennifer Crawford / WGCU
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President Trump visits Alligator Alcatraz site
Evan Vucci/AP / AP
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President Trump visits Alligator Alcatraz site
Evan Vucci/AP / AP
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President Trump visits Alligator Alcatraz site
Evan Vucci/AP / AP
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President Trump visits Alligator Alcatraz site
Evan Vucci/AP / AP
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President Trump visits Alligator Alcatraz site
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President Trump visits Alligator Alcatraz site
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President Trump visits Alligator Alcatraz site
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President Trump visits Alligator Alcatraz site
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President Trump visits Alligator Alcatraz site
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— AlligatorAlcatraz062225AM
George Garcia, from Miami and an alligator wrestler, came out to help defend the Everglade. Sunday, June 22, Betty Osceola called on Love The Everglades Movement, and Friends of the Everglades along with other locals to protest a proposed immigrant detention center inside Big Cypress National Preserve. Protesters lined the road to try and stop “Alligator Alcatraz”..
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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— AlligatorAlcatraz062225AM
George Garcia, from Miami and an alligator wrestler, came out to help defend the Everglade. Sunday, June 22, Betty Osceola called on Love The Everglades Movement, and Friends of the Everglades along with other locals to protest a proposed immigrant detention center inside Big Cypress National Preserve. Protesters lined the road to try and stop “Alligator Alcatraz”..
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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— AlligatorAlcatraz062225AM
Elaine Camarda and husband, Robert Ubaldo, of Bonita Springs protests across from the entrance to the proposed site. Sunday, June 22, Betty Osceola called on Love The Everglades Movement, and Friends of the Everglades along with other locals to protest a proposed immigrant detention center inside Big Cypress National Preserve. Protesters lined the road to try and stop “Alligator Alcatraz”..
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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— AlligatorAlcatraz062225AM
Sunday, June 22, Betty Osceola called on Love The Everglades Movement, and Friends of the Everglades along with other locals to protest a proposed immigrant detention center inside Big Cypress National Preserve. Protesters lined the road to try and stop “Alligator Alcatraz”..
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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— AlligatorAlcatraz062225AM
Sunday, June 22, Betty Osceola called on Love The Everglades Movement, and Friends of the Everglades along with other locals to protest a proposed immigrant detention center inside Big Cypress National Preserve. Protesters lined the road to try and stop “Alligator Alcatraz”..
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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— AlligatorAlcatraz062225AM
Sunday, June 22, Betty Osceola called on Love The Everglades Movement, and Friends of the Everglades along with other locals to protest a proposed immigrant detention center inside Big Cypress National Preserve. Protesters lined the road to try and stop “Alligator Alcatraz”..
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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— AlligatorAlcatraz062225AM
Sunday, June 22, Betty Osceola called on Love The Everglades Movement, and Friends of the Everglades along with other locals to protest a proposed immigrant detention center inside Big Cypress National Preserve. Protesters lined the road to try and stop “Alligator Alcatraz”..
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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— AlligatorAlcatraz062225AM
Sunday, June 22, Betty Osceola called on Love The Everglades Movement, and Friends of the Everglades along with other locals to protest a proposed immigrant detention center inside Big Cypress National Preserve. Protesters lined the road to try and stop “Alligator Alcatraz”..
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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— AlligatorAlcatraz062225AM
Sunday, June 22, Betty Osceola called on Love The Everglades Movement, and Friends of the Everglades along with other locals to protest a proposed immigrant detention center inside Big Cypress National Preserve. Protesters lined the road to try and stop “Alligator Alcatraz”..
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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— AlligatorAlcatraz062225AM
Sunday, June 22, Betty Osceola called on Love The Everglades Movement, and Friends of the Everglades along with other locals to protest a proposed immigrant detention center inside Big Cypress National Preserve. Protesters lined the road to try and stop “Alligator Alcatraz”..
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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— AlligatorAlcatraz062225AM
Sunday, June 22, Betty Osceola called on Love The Everglades Movement, and Friends of the Everglades along with other locals to protest a proposed immigrant detention center inside Big Cypress National Preserve. Protesters lined the road to try and stop “Alligator Alcatraz”..
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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— AlligatorAlcatraz062225AM
Sunday, June 22, Betty Osceola called on Love The Everglades Movement, and Friends of the Everglades along with other locals to protest a proposed immigrant detention center inside Big Cypress National Preserve. Protesters lined the road to try and stop “Alligator Alcatraz”..
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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— AlligatorAlcatraz062225AM
Sunday, June 22, Betty Osceola called on Love The Everglades Movement, and Friends of the Everglades along with other locals to protest a proposed immigrant detention center inside Big Cypress National Preserve. Protesters lined the road to try and stop “Alligator Alcatraz”..
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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— AlligatorAlcatraz062225AM
Sunday, June 22, Betty Osceola called on Love The Everglades Movement, and Friends of the Everglades along with other locals to protest a proposed immigrant detention center inside Big Cypress National Preserve. Protesters lined the road to try and stop “Alligator Alcatraz”..
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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— AlligatorAlcatraz062225AM
Sunday, June 22, Betty Osceola called on Love The Everglades Movement, and Friends of the Everglades along with other locals to protest a proposed immigrant detention center inside Big Cypress National Preserve. Protesters lined the road to try and stop “Alligator Alcatraz”..
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
TALLAHASSEE — Environmental groups Friday gave formal notice that they could sue federal and state agencies over alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act at an immigrant-detention center in the Everglades dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”
The notice was in addition to a lawsuit filed June 27 that alleges violations of the National Environmental Policy Act, a federal law that requires evaluating potential environmental impacts before such a project can move forward.
The notice warned that if the alleged violations are not resolved within 60 days, Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity plan to sue. Elise Bennett, an attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, said in an email that the allegations would be amended onto the already-existing lawsuit.
The state last week began operating the detention center at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, a remote site used for flight training surrounded by the Everglades and the Big Cypress National Preserve. While the state is operating the facility, officials have said they will seek federal reimbursement for the costs.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has contended the facility, which could house 3,000 people, does not pose environmental threats. Among other things, the airport has existed for decades.
But environmental groups warn that it could cause wide-ranging ecological damage and harm a variety of species such as endangered Florida panthers.
Friday’s notice was addressed to officials at several federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
In part, attorneys for Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity contended in the notice that federal agencies violated the Endangered Species Act by not going through what is known as a “consultation” process related to the construction and operation of the facility. That process would include agencies consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about the potential effects on species..
The notice described consultation as the “heart” of the Endangered Species Act and said it includes a “substantive duty for federal agencies to ensure the actions they authorize or carry out are not likely to jeopardize listed species or destroy or adversely modify critical habitat designated” for species.
Read more
- Worms in the food, toilets overflow — conditions unsavory at Alligator Alcatraz detainees are saying
- Governor DeSantis is building 'Alligator Alcatraz' with little oversight – and a big campaign donor is set to reap millions from it
- ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ is just the start of a state plan to remove immigrants. Will it wreck Florida’s economy?
- Florida to build 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention center for migrants in Everglades
- Protest at detention center site decries use in national preserve area
- Environmental groups sue to block migrant detention center rising in Everglades; Florida Audubon urges state use 'alternatives'
- Lawmakers 'only' to be given tour of 'Alligator Alcatraz' Saturday
“Based on our review of publicly available information, the federal agencies have failed to initiate and complete formal consultation over their respective agency actions associated with the construction and operation of the mass immigration detention center in the middle of Big Cypress National Preserve, which may affect — and is indeed likely to adversely affect — species listed under the ESA (Endangered Species Act),” attorneys from the Center for Biological Diversity and the Earthjustice legal organization wrote.
The notice also alleged federal and state agencies violated the Clean Water Act by not obtaining a dredge-and-fill permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers “for apparent filling and paving of federal jurisdictional waters associated with the construction and operation of the mass detention center.”