Everglades prison will have "zero environmental impact." We call bullsh@t!
Gov. DeSantis' unscientific claims of "zero impact" do not match what we are seeing with our own eyes.
Despite no environmental impact studies or proper permitting procedures, Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to claim his 5,000-person tent prison in the Everglades will have “zero environmental impact.” [1]
Respectfully, Governor, we call bullsh@t. We’ve seen the aerial photos and you don’t have to be a scientist to see there is a lot of environmental impact happening right now — including “newly paved roads…” [2] [3]
And environmental experts are weighing in:
… we must explore this project from multiple angles, including recognizing how this can quickly turn into a human and environmental disaster and a potential liability to Floridians. Simply put, Alligator Alcatraz is the making of an environmental crisis.
… DeSantis’s claim that the project will have “zero” impact holds zero weight. Anyone familiar with the Everglades knows that the terrain is a precarious system. The weight of more than 5,000 people in an area requires increased infrastructure. Needs for food and water, and the disposal of waste lead to increased transportation, attracting more people to the area, increasing the pressure on locally sensitive spaces…
… If we’re lucky, the changes will be small, but all too often the impacts include drastically altering local habitats that keystone species rely on, disrupting ecosystems that help keep balance in our world, and causing a mess of trouble when it comes to interrupting water flow in and around the Everglades… — Victoria Machado, assistant professor of Environmental Studies at Rollins College [4]
As are hurricane experts:
The hastily constructed detention camp in the Everglades that began processing immigrant detainees late this week has already flooded once, may not meet hurricane codes and is not officially approved or funded by the federal government…
… Some building experts note that the site is in a High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, where local code requires that a building’s entire envelope — including windows, doors and eaves — incorporates lab-tested, wind-resistant design… [5]
Even folks at FOX News are pushing back:
… So why is Noem building a "soft-sided" facility in an ecologically fragile mosquito pit, 45 miles from downtown Miami?… Let’s say it plainly: the obsession with "criminal optics" is blinding this department. Noem wants splashy headlines and snake pit visuals to suggest something bold is happening. But bold isn’t tents in the Everglades… [6]
No prisons. No rock mines. No airports. ONLY EVERGLADES.
Let’s support Friends of the Everglades as they continue to press their lawsuit to stop this prison:
… Creation of our national parks was one of America’s best ideas — and this project in the heart of the Everglades is one of its worst. We know this may be a long road. But it is a battle that can be won with your continued support, vigilance and voice. Together, we can still stop this destruction and demand accountability from those who should be stewards — not exploiters — of America’s Everglades… — Eve Samples, Friends of the Everglades
Stay vigilant — Capt. Steve
PS — Here is the view from my “office” today as we compete in the Del Brown Permit Tournament. Tight lines!
"Alligator Alcatraz" immigrant detention center sparks outcry as DeSantis claims zero environmental impact, CBS Miami, 6/25/25
New aerial photos of 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention center show detainees, USA Today, 7/4/25
Photos show new paving in Everglades detention center environmental groups seek to stop, Florida Phoenix, 7/7/25
Commentary: Alligator Alcatraz detention center is the making of an environmental crisis, Orlando Sentinel, 7/6/25
Heat, storms, mosquitoes the big threats at Alligator Alcatraz, experts say, Washington Post, 7/5/25
Swamp games: Inside Noem's controversial 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention strategy, FOX News, 7/7/25