Context:

The DeSantis administration in Florida secretly constructed a massive immigration detention center in the Everglades, known as 'Alligator Alcatraz', without informing local officials, using an executive order to bypass regulations and seize county-owned land. Emails reveal that local officials in southwest Florida were unaware of the plans, learning about them only through rumors and concerned citizens, as the state rapidly coordinated construction activities. The facility's creation, intended as a deterrent for illegal immigration, was executed under emergency powers that allowed the suspension of various statutes and rules, sparking concerns and a federal lawsuit from environmental groups. Local officials were left scrambling for information and guidance from the state, with some turning to the media to understand the unfolding situation. Despite the controversy, the facility was completed in just ten days, with its opening attended by high-profile political figures, including DeSantis and Trump, as local officials sought to distance themselves from the project and its potential impact on tourism and the community.

Dive Deeper:

• The Florida government, under Governor Ron DeSantis, constructed an immigration detention center in the Everglades, known as 'Alligator Alcatraz', without notifying local officials, leveraging an executive order to expedite the process and sidestep legal requirements.

• Local officials were caught off guard by the project, with emails detailing their attempts to verify rumors as the state moved forward with construction plans, highlighting a lack of communication and coordination between state and county authorities.

• The executive order used for the project allowed the suspension of any legal statute or regulation deemed to impede the state's response to what was termed an immigration emergency, raising concerns of an abuse of power and leading to a federal lawsuit by environmental groups.

• State officials moved quickly, taking over county-owned land and organizing construction at a remote airstrip, intending to use the facility as a deterrent against illegal immigration, amid criticism and apprehension from local authorities about the site's management and jurisdictional responsibilities.

• Local officials, facing media scrutiny and public queries, sought to clarify their non-involvement in the airstrip acquisition and construction, while simultaneously trying to mitigate any negative repercussions on their community's tourism industry.

• The rapid construction and secretive nature of the project drew local and national attention, with officials resorting to news reports for updates as the facility's existence and purpose became a matter of public debate.

• Despite the controversy, the detention center was completed within ten days, with a high-profile inauguration attended by political figures like DeSantis and Trump, while local officials aimed to maintain a distance from the project and its execution.