In pursuit of immigration enforcement, the DeSantis administration quickly seized Everglades land to construct the center. A fleet of trucks transported crucial equipment into the sensitive area. Meanwhile, environmentalists sued to prevent the facility from operating, citing potential ecological damage.

Action News Jax has learned the Jacksonville-based company contracted to staff Alligator Alcatraz has ties to a donor of Governor Ron DeSantis. CRS took down its leadership page sometime after May 13th,

The Florida governor relied on an executive order to seize the land, hire contractors, and bypass laws and regulations.

PolitiFact | Gov. Ron DeSantis did not provide evidence showing how state agencies or officials determined the facility has zero environmental impact.

For those of you avoiding news, Alligator Alcatraz is a confinement structure thrown together in an area surrounded by the Florida Everglades. Our president loves it. He said, “They have a lot of bodyguards and a lot of cops that are in the form of alligators. You don’t have to pay them so much.”

Are you a fan of the Department of Homeland Security opening its new Alligator Alcatraz detention facility in the Florida Everglades? If so, get ready. More detention facilities could be on the way. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced Saturday that five governors -- all Republicans -- are in talks to put facilities similar to Florida's in their own states.

Artificial light in a world-renowned “dark sky” preserve is just one of the environmental and human health concerns surrounding the facility.

The county is also eyeing potential modifications to its agreement with ICE after sustained pressure from immigrant rights advocates.