OCHOPEE, Fla. — One day after a federal court heard arguments over whether to shut down the “Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility in the Everglades due to environmental concerns, questions are also growing about the cost to taxpayers.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has said the facility is crucial to ensuring the president’s immigration agenda is carried out.
But scrutiny continues — not only over the environmental impact, but also the cost to taxpayers and concerns about conditions inside.
Activists who have been sounding alarms about the environmental impact of the ICE detention facility in the heart of the Everglades are now also pointing to the financial burden.
“There’s no water or sewage infrastructure, there’s no lighting, everything has to be trucked in and out posing an environmental risk and a huge burden on taxpayers,” said Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades — the group suing to shut it down over environmental concerns.
The state of Florida is still awaiting full reimbursement of roughly $608 million from the federal government for operating the facility.
Samples also pointed to the roughly 1,500 detainees reportedly being held there.
“The cost per detainee is $249 per night per detainee, that’s about three times the average state correctional cost,” she said. “(It’s) more than $90 million for the porta-potty contractor.”
Samples said purchase documents recently released in a separate lawsuit raise additional concerns.
Meanwhile, some detainees describe what they call inhumane conditions inside the facility.
Multiple migrants have contacted Local 10 News from inside the facility, including 63-year-old Mario Vara Gonzalez, who said he has been held there for more than 157 days and has lost 55 pounds during that time.
He said that during one recent meal he was given only a hot dog and coleslaw.
Gonzalez said he wants out, even if it means returning to Cuba.
Federal and state officials have not publicly addressed the latest claims about conditions inside the facility.
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