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TALLAHASSEE, FL — Five Florida legislators have filed a lawsuit in the state’s Supreme Court, alleging that Governor Ron DeSantis and his administration unlawfully denied them access to a newly constructed state-run immigrant detention facility—nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz”—in the Everglades. The lawsuit seeks a writ of quo warranto, demanding immediate, unannounced access to the facility, and accuses the administration of violating state law and the Florida Constitution.

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The lawmakers—Senators Shevrin Jones and Carlos Guillermo Smith, and Representatives Anna Eskamani, Angela Nixon, and Michele Rayner—say their attempt to carry out a legally authorized inspection of the Dade-Collier Training & Transition Airport site on July 3 was blocked by state law enforcement agents citing vague “safety concerns.” The facility, rapidly constructed in eight days and funded with $450 million in Florida taxpayer dollars, has drawn sharp criticism over transparency, conditions, and alleged executive overreach.

Bryan Griffin, a spokesperson for DeSantis, noted that the state invited all legislators to tour Alligator Alcatraz this weekend. He called the legal action “frivolous … The state is looking forward to quickly dispensing with this dumb lawsuit.”

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“Alligator Alcatraz”: A Symbol of Executive Overreach?

Dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by DeSantis allies online and built deep in the Everglades, the detention center was designed to house undocumented immigrants under a continuing state of emergency declared by DeSantis in 2023. Petitioners argue that this project, carried out without federal approval or reimbursement, is shrouded in secrecy, lacks oversight, and violates state law that guarantees legislators unannounced access to detention facilities.

“The DeSantis Administration’s refusal to let us in wasn’t some bureaucratic misstep,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. “It was a deliberate obstruction meant to hide what’s really happening behind those gates.” They point to Florida Statutes §§ 944.23 and 951.225, which expressly authorize members of the Legislature to inspect state and local detention facilities “at their pleasure,” without requiring prior notice or permission.

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From Flooding to Photo Ops: Transparency Denied

Reports have surfaced alleging dangerous conditions inside the facility, including flooding just days after its completion. The lawmakers attempted an unannounced visit to assess the conditions and ensure the responsible use of public funds. Instead, they were met with barriers and offered a scheduled tour—described in the lawsuit and accompanying press release as a “staged, scripted, and sanitized 90-minute walkthrough.”

“This tour is not about transparency; it’s about containment,” they said. “Oversight cannot be choreographed. The people detained inside deserve more than a photo op.”

Constitutional Clash: Separation of Powers at Stake

The lawsuit argues that the Governor’s actions violate the constitutional separation of powers by preventing a co-equal branch of government from exercising its statutory oversight duties. The legislators warn that such precedent could embolden future abuses of power.

“The rule of law must be upheld,” the petitioners assert. “Our Constitution does not coronate a king… The blatant, illegal, and cavalier nature of this violation puts the independence of the legislative and judicial branches at risk.”

Legal Grounds and Relief Sought

The 40-page legal filing cites multiple statutes, including:

• Fla. Stat. § 944.23: Legislators may visit state correctional institutions “at their pleasure.”
• Fla. Stat. § 951.225: Extends this right to municipal and county detention facilities.
• Fla. Stat. § 252.311: Declares legislative intent for emergency responses to remain transparent.
• Art. II, Sec. 3 of the Florida Constitution: Establishes separation of powers among the three branches.

Petitioners are seeking a writ compelling Governor DeSantis and Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie to immediately permit unannounced entry to the detention facility.

Political and Legal Ramifications

This case comes just one day after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a DeSantis-backed immigration law criminalizing undocumented presence in Florida, marking another legal blow to his immigration policies. It also coincides with growing criticism over the use of emergency powers and the rapid, opaque construction of detention facilities with limited public oversight.

The lawmakers plan to attend the state-sanctioned tour of “Alligator Alcatraz” on Saturday but emphasized they will return—unannounced—to carry out their constitutional duty.

View the Full Lawsuit

Read the complete legal filing here:

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