Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava decried the opening of the migrant detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz" in the Everglades, claiming to be "deeply concerned by federal immigration actions that prioritize fear and enforcement over compassion and justice."
In an op-ed published in the Miami Herald, Levine Cava said that the policies being implemented by the federal and state administrations are "not only ineffective in managing immigration challenges, but also fundamentally inhumane, undermining the very values that define our nation."
The mayor has also requested oversight access to the facility following allegations of mistreatment there. She sent letters to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem requesting remote video monitoring, weekly site condition reports and scheduled access to the facility, according to CBS News.
The mayor sustained her request based on what she described as poor access to hospitals, legal counsel and oversight at different facilities across the state. "Our community will be informed through this process to ensure that these sensitive operations remain both humane and secure," reads a passage of one of the letters.
Accounts from detainees being held at the center describe harsh conditions, including lack of access to confidential legal communication, insufficient hygiene resources, and scorching temperatures.
In another passage of the op-ed, Levine Cava claimed that the county she leads "stands as a beacon of hope and opportunity, where immigrants contribute to our economy, culture, and community every day." However, she added, now they are being treated as "criminals or threats," a move that is "both unjust and counterproductive."
"Our immigration policies should focus on securing our borders and deporting dangerous criminals, not removing protections for people who are following the law and helping build our economy," she added.
Levine Cava went on to note that many migrants are now being held in "overcrowded detention centers with deplorable conditions, inadequate access to legal counsel and an alarming rise in family separations."
Several outlets have reported on the situation, with the Miami Herald noting that detainees inside the site located on a remote airstrip in Big Cypress National Preserve have been unable to make private phone calls to attorneys despite legal requirements for confidential legal access.
Speaking to CBS News on Tuesday, Cuban reggaeton artist Leamsy La Figura, who was arrested in Miami-Dade last week and taken to the facility, said he had not taken a bath in four days since arriving on Friday. He went on to say that "they only brought a meal once a day and it had maggots." "They never take off the lights for 24 hours," Leamsy added.
Levine Cava concluded by claiming she remains committed to "doing everything within our authority to protect our residents, push for transparency, and uphold the values of our community." "History will remember this moment. We must always be on the side of justice and dignity," she finished.
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