The Mysterious Roads of ‘Alligator Alcatraz

There may or may not be a stretch of pavement in the Everglades that exposes an alleged lie about Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” detention camp. 

Florida attorney general James Uthmeier, who was previously DeSantis’ chief of staff and the manager of the governor’s unsuccessful White House bid last year, announced the project late last month. Since then, there has been a flurry of activity at the site, which is located on an old airport within the Big Cypress National Preserve — home to a slew of endangered and threatened species. There’s also been a whirlwind of controversy surrounding the detention center, with a lawsuit filed by environmental activists, claims of high heat and overcrowding, concerns from attorneys about a lack of due process, and opposition from tribal groups. 

DeSantis and other Republicans have reveled in the idea the camp has harsh conditions by giving it a gruesome nickname and even launching a merch line. While the governor has seemingly brushed off human rights issues, he has tried to respond to the environmental concerns — by insisting there aren’t any at all. DeSantis has said the camp will have “zero impact” on the Everglades. That claim, which multiple fact checkers have noted is almost certainly false, relies on the idea the camp will be built on the existing airport.  

However, in court, environmental activists have presented a declaration from an ecologist and a private pilot who flew over the site. That statement included photos that appeared to show multiple areas of “new road and asphalting.”