ORLANDO, Fla. - U.S. government lawyers have revealed that detainees at the immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ may include individuals who have never undergone removal proceedings, which directly contradicts statements made by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis since the facility's opening in July.
In a court filing on Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys argued that the detainees lack sufficient commonality to form a class-action lawsuit concerning their access to legal counsel. A removal proceeding is a legal process enacted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to determine an individual's deportation status. According to the DOJ, the detainees exhibit a variety of immigration statuses, complicating the proposed class action suit.
“The proposed class includes all detainees at Alligator Alcatraz, a facility that houses individuals at various stages of immigration processing,” the filing stated. “This presumably includes those never in removal proceedings, those newly placed into removal proceedings, and others with active final orders of removal.”
Governor DeSantis has publicly asserted that each detainee has gone through a definitive process establishing their inability to remain legally in the United States. In a July 25 conference held outside the detention center, DeSantis stated, “Everybody here is already on a final removal order.”
Despite this, the DOJ's recent filing challenges this narrative amid ongoing legal battles involving civil rights groups alleging the denial of adequate attorney access for detainees, potentially infringing their constitutional rights. These groups have requested a federal injunction to reinforce guidelines ensuring private attorney meetings and confidential document sharing.
The circumstances surrounding the detention center continue to spark significant debate, alongside the legal and environmental ramifications tied to its operation. This creates a pressing need for clarity regarding the rights and protections afforded to individuals detained at the facility.
In a court filing on Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys argued that the detainees lack sufficient commonality to form a class-action lawsuit concerning their access to legal counsel. A removal proceeding is a legal process enacted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to determine an individual's deportation status. According to the DOJ, the detainees exhibit a variety of immigration statuses, complicating the proposed class action suit.
“The proposed class includes all detainees at Alligator Alcatraz, a facility that houses individuals at various stages of immigration processing,” the filing stated. “This presumably includes those never in removal proceedings, those newly placed into removal proceedings, and others with active final orders of removal.”
Governor DeSantis has publicly asserted that each detainee has gone through a definitive process establishing their inability to remain legally in the United States. In a July 25 conference held outside the detention center, DeSantis stated, “Everybody here is already on a final removal order.”
Despite this, the DOJ's recent filing challenges this narrative amid ongoing legal battles involving civil rights groups alleging the denial of adequate attorney access for detainees, potentially infringing their constitutional rights. These groups have requested a federal injunction to reinforce guidelines ensuring private attorney meetings and confidential document sharing.
The circumstances surrounding the detention center continue to spark significant debate, alongside the legal and environmental ramifications tied to its operation. This creates a pressing need for clarity regarding the rights and protections afforded to individuals detained at the facility.
