The Florida director for the Center for Biological Diversity said Tuesday she was more concerned about the effects “Alligator Alcatraz” would have on Florida wildlife than what might happen to illegal immigrants and immigration officers there.
Environmental groups sued to block the opening of the detainment facility slated for use by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Friday prior to President Donald Trump visiting the center located at an abandoned airport in the Everglades on Tuesday. CNN host Wolf Blitzer asked Elaine Bennett whether the detainees would be at risk at the center. (RELATED: ‘One-Stop Shop’: Ron DeSantis Shows Off New Alligator-Friendly Facility For Illegals)
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“I think the storms are a real concern, but I’ll say this: When it comes to the wildlife, I’m more concerned for the wildlife than the folks on the site,” Bennett told Blitzer and “Situation Room” co-host Pamela Brown. “I’ve actually waded in the wetlands not far from that site myself, waist deep in the water, no problem, wasn’t attacked by alligators. You know, the idea that these are vicious animals out to attack people is rather absurd.”
“I think it detracts from the important message, which is that this doesn’t belong here,” Bennett added. “Floridians don’t want it here, and it’s wasteful and an incredible risk to our ecological resources.”
The Trump administration approved the construction of the facility to house and process illegal immigrants for deportation on June 24 following a suggestion by Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier of Florida.
Trump visited the facility, accompanied by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and others, for a tour hosted by Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Trump issued several executive orders to address illegal immigration and border security, including designating Mexican drug cartels, the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) and the El Salvadoran prison gang MS-13 as foreign terrorist organizations upon taking office Jan. 20 and invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to speed up the deportation of gang members on March 15.
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