Recommendations of the Editorial team
Experts are concerned about the dangerous conditions in the “Alligator Alcatraz”, the new detention center for migrants, which was opened on Tuesday in the Florida Everglades. Hurricanes, floods and mosquitoes represent a significantly greater threat to those imprisoned there than the alligators and snakes, about the US President Donald Trump “jokingly”.
Center as a political symbol
The facility was built within eight days. It consists of large tents, bunk beds and chain fences that form cages for around 3,000 people. The camp has already been flooded. Despite the provisional equipment, the annual operating costs are $ 450 million according to the Minister of Homeland Protection.
The first groups of migrants were brought to Alligator Alcatraz. This was announced by Florida’s disaster protection department. “Florida is proud to support @Raldonaldtrump’s mission to enforce immigration law,” the authority posted on X.
The inhospitable situation of the center serves republicans as an argument for its deterrent effect. “If someone flees, nothing else is waiting for him than alligators and pythons outside,” said Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier in an advertising video for Alligator Alcatraz. “No place to run there. No place to hide.”
Isolated and dangerous
The migrants are “in a facility that is hardly accessible to lawyers, family members and inspectors,” said Renata Bozzetto, deputy director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, to the “Washington Post” in an article published on Saturday. “The remote and isolated location is problematic. It is problematic that the center lies in an ecologically sensitive area. And that it was built from temporary materials would be catastrophic for a hurricane.”
The center is located in a high-speed hurricial zone in which buildings must have a wind-resistant structure according to the building regulation. Florida’s head of disaster protection, Kevin Guthrie, said the “Washington Post” that the buildings were designed for wind speeds of 110 miles per hour. For comparison: Hurricane Milton achieved top speeds of 180 miles per hour last year.
Mosquito plague as a health risk
In a state where even private swimming pools are shielded all around by nets, the mosquitoes are so numerous that television reporters can hardly do their work.
“You are probably wondering why I wear a hoodie and a rain jacket. This is because you can hardly walk out here because of the mosquitoes,” said Hatzel Vela from NBC6. “If it rains a lot and puddles form, of course many mosquitoes arise.”
The mosquitoes represent a serious health risk.
“The risk of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes is considerable,” said Durland Fish, emeritus professor of epidemiology at Yale University School of Public Health, the “Washington Post.” Mosquitoes in Everglades can cause neurological damage such as encephalitis. A potentially life -threatening illness.
“The moment you open the car window, the car is full of mosquitoes,” said the MP from Florida, Anna Eskamani, Fox 13.
Access for MPs
Eskamani was one of five Democrats who were denied access to the center on Thursday.
“Florida law allows MPs to carry out unannounced visits to state institutions. To check the conditions and ensure the well-being of the inmates. I’ve been a member for 13 years. Something like this has never happened to me,” wrote the state of the state, Shevrin Jones, on X.
“This is an obvious abuse of power. And an attempt to hide human rights violations from the public,” said the MPs in a joint statement.
Political capital and donations
Republicans support the construction of the facility with enthusiasm. The Republican Party of Floridas even sells Merchandise, which advertises the camp.
According to Rolling Stone, some donors benefit financially from the camp. The President of CDR Companies – according to Bloomberg responsible for medical services and preparatory work on site – has done donations to President Donald Trump and Florida’s governor Ron Desantis.
The facility is surrounded on three sides of residential areas of the Miccosukee and seminols. Including their ceremonial sites.
“It is a place we come to heal to pray,” Betty Oscola, member of the Everglades Advisory Board and members of the Miccosuke-Stamms, told NBC News.