DeSantis Defends Border Sovereignty, Dems Lash Out with Lawsuit Over 'Alligator Alcatraz'

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is once again at the center of the immigration debate, standing firm on border security while Democrats spiral into outrage — this time over a facility they’ve dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”

Five Democratic state legislators filed a lawsuit Thursday against Governor DeSantis, claiming he unlawfully blocked their access to the migrant detention center located deep in the Florida Everglades. They insist the denial of entry obstructs their legislative oversight authority.

“The DeSantis Administration’s refusal to let us in wasn’t some bureaucratic misstep,” the lawmakers declared in a joint statement, according to the Associated Press. “It was a deliberate obstruction meant to hide what’s really happening behind those gates.”

Their lawsuit, filed with the state Supreme Court, argues that no statute gives the governor the power to restrict the legislature’s ability to conduct oversight of state-run facilities.

“There is no statute that permits the Governor to overrule the Legislature’s oversight authority. This lawsuit is about defending the rule of law, protecting vulnerable people inside that facility, and stopping the normalization of executive overreach,” they added.

The group also named Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie as a co-defendant in the case.

A spokesperson for Governor DeSantis swiftly dismissed the legal action as “dumb” and “frivolous.”

Critics note that Democrats have a long history of siding with illegal immigrants over American citizens. The lawsuit is being seen by many on the Right not as a defense of legislative duty but as political theater designed to smear effective border enforcement efforts.

Meanwhile, the DeSantis administration and the White House have championed the Everglades detention model as a gold standard for illegal immigration control. The remote site, now known nationally as “Alligator Alcatraz,” is being hailed as a powerful deterrent and model for other red states.

And the momentum is growing.

From Idaho to South Carolina, Republican-led states are exploring — and in some cases, already constructing — similar facilities.

“We don’t have alligators, but we have lots of bears,” said Alaska state officials in comments to Fox News’ Laura Ingraham. “I am not aware of any plans for an Alaska version of Alligator Alcatraz.”

South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace wasn’t shy about her support. “Dear DHS: We’ve got a swamp and a dream. Let’s talk. South Carolina’s gators are ready. And they’re not big on paperwork,” she wrote on X. “If I was Governor, we’d be bringing Alligator Alcatraz to South Carolina.”

According to Fox News Digital, 26 GOP governors were contacted about potential plans. A number responded with details of facilities in development:

• Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s office announced the state is “building the largest detention facility in the nation,” highlighting the state’s leadership in combating illegal immigration through its National Guard deployments and bans on sanctuary cities.
• Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is working with the Trump administration to enhance deportation efforts and is constructing a new 3,000-bed prison. “Governor Sanders is working hand-in-hand with the Trump Administration to deport violent, criminal illegal immigrants,” her office told Fox, pointing to the state’s new law cracking down on criminal illegals.
• South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster’s spokesman said the state’s National Guard and law enforcement remain fully engaged in federal enforcement partnerships to crack down on illegal border crossings.

Governor DeSantis continues to send a clear message: states will no longer sit idle while Washington Democrats obstruct immigration enforcement. And with growing support from Republican governors across the country, “Alligator Alcatraz” may be just the beginning of a nationwide crackdown.