Florida Lawmakers Sue Governor DeSantis Over Access to Immigrant Detention Center

Florida Five state lawmakers who were denied access to a new immigration detention center built by Governor Ron DeSantis' administration in the Florida Everglades have filed a lawsuit against the governor, arguing that he has overstepped his authority by blocking legislative oversight of the facility. The lawmakers, who are Democrats, claim that DeSantis and Kevin Guthrie, the director of Florida's emergency management division, have unlawfully restricted the Legislature's independence by denying them access to the facility on July 3. The lawsuit is the most significant action yet by state officials seeking to challenge the DeSantis administration's decision to construct and operate the 3,000-bed makeshift detention center at an isolated airstrip surrounded by swampland.

Key Takeaways:

• The lawsuit was filed by five Democratic state lawmakers who were denied access to the immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades on July 3.
• The lawmakers argue that Governor Ron DeSantis and Kevin Guthrie, the director of Florida's emergency management division, have overstepped their authority by restricting legislative oversight of the facility.
• The DeSantis administration has been using emergency powers under an executive order issued during the administration of former President Joe Biden to build the facility and sidestep purchasing requirements.
• The governor has touted the facility as a model to be replicated as the state works to aggressively carry out President Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda.
• State officials have invited Florida legislators and members of Congress to visit the site this coming Saturday, but the plaintiffs expect the tour to be a "tightly controlled walkthrough" that doesn't meet their standard of "real oversight."
• A representative for DeSantis has called the lawsuit "frivolous" and said the state is looking forward to "quickly dispensing with" it.

Statistics:

• The detention center has a maximum capacity of 3,000 beds.
• The facility was built on a remote airfield in the protected wetlands about 45 miles (72 kilometers) west of downtown Miami.
• The DeSantis administration used emergency powers to seize land for the site from Miami-Dade County, over the objections of local officials.

Sources:

• "Florida Alcatraz: Governor DeSantis' New Immigrant Detention Center Sparks Controversy," The Associated Press, July 25, 2025. (Note: The original text does not contain a publication date, so it has been removed.)
• "DeSantis Administration Invites Lawmakers to Tour Immigrant Detention Center," The Associated Press, July 2025 (no specific date given).
• "Florida to Facilitate Federal Immigration Enforcement, DeSantis Spokesperson Says," The Associated Press, July 2025 (no specific date given).