EVERGLADES, Florida: Over the weekend, a diverse coalition of environmental activists, Native American leaders, and residents gathered near an airstrip in the Florida Everglades to protest the rapid construction of a new immigrant detention center. The site, dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," lies within the Big Cypress National Preserve, an ecologically fragile and culturally significant region.

Protesters lined U.S. Highway 41, also known as the Tamiami Trail, holding signs and chanting as dump trucks rolled past, bringing materials into the swampy construction zone. Many cars honked in solidarity. The Everglades, home to endangered wildlife and traditional Native American villages, now faces disruption from the facility's development.

Ecologist and South Florida city commissioner Christopher McVoy was among those protesting. He said he watched truck after truck enter the site while standing for hours in the heat. "Environmental degradation brought me here," he said. "But I'm also seeing fear in my community from immigration raids."

Construction began under emergency powers granted by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who issued an executive order fast-tracking immigration enforcement efforts. The order allows the state to bypass standard procurement rules, enabling swift development despite objections from Miami-Dade County officials and conservationists.

The facility, scheduled to be operational by early July, will include tents and trailers capable of holding up to 5,000 immigrants. DeSantis claimed the site's remote and hostile surroundings—filled with alligators and invasive pythons—enhance security. "No one's going anywhere," he said.

However, Native American leaders are alarmed. The site lies near 15 traditional Miccosukee and Seminole villages, as well as sacred burial and ceremonial grounds. Their opposition was central to Saturday's protest.

Human rights advocates have also condemned the project, calling the planned housing conditions inhumane. Environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Everglades, filed a lawsuit on June 27 to halt the project. They argue that the development risks irreversible damage to the Everglades' complex wetland ecosystem.

"The Everglades is an interconnected system," said Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades. "One disturbance can cause far-reaching harm."

Despite these concerns, a spokesperson for Governor Ron DeSantis defended the center, calling it a "necessary staging area for mass deportations" that would have "no environmental impact." However, groups argue that the lack of environmental review and public input violates fundamental safeguards.

Under DeSantis, Florida has aggressively pushed for immigration enforcement and has supported the federal government's broader crackdown on illegal immigration. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has backed "Alligator Alcatraz," which DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said will be partially funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Jessica Namath, founder of Floridians for Public Lands, said the construction threatens the Everglades' fragile ecosystems and tourism economy. "The pollution, the noise—it's all here already," she said. "This place is sacred and valuable, not some forgotten corner."