MIAMI — A $608 million federal payout is likely to play a central role in ongoing litigation over Florida’s controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention facility.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Florida submitted an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and was awarded the full $608 million just two days ago.
It remains unclear whether all of that money will be spent exclusively on the detention site.
“The reality is what I have said from the beginning — we will get reimbursed,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Sept. 26.
Florida officials have defended the detention site, emphasizing its isolation.
But environmental groups, including Friends of the Everglades, are fighting to force state and federal officials to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and conduct an environmental impact study.
“It is not a federal facility and it is being staffed and run by folks under state control, so we don’t have to do an environmental impact study,” DeSantis argued on Sept. 26.
Advocates disagree.
“We call on the state and federal government to release this funding application and the details of the approval,” said Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades. “The public has a right to know how this $600 million is being spent.”
The issue of federal funding has become a turning point. In early September, a divided 11th Circuit Court of Appeals panel halted efforts to wind down operations at the facility, ruling there was no federal action triggering NEPA since Florida had not yet applied for or received federal money.
Now, one legal expert says the federal award changes things.
“Because we have the federal funding, the state of Florida is acting as an agent for the federal government, therefore implicating the federal government,” Florida International University law professor Ediberto Roman said.
Samples echoed that argument.
“We are confident that the record reflects this was always a federal project, that it was built at the request of the federal government with the promise of federal funding, and now we have clear evidence that was the case,” she said.
DeSantis has remained confident the state will prevail.
“I don’t think it really changes anything because it is still state property and it is a state mission,” he said. “It is going to go to the 11th Circuit — look, we will win this eventually one way or another. By the time this winds its way through, who knows what will even be necessary at that point.”
Oral arguments in the case are scheduled before the 11th Circuit in January.
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