1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

Shut down Florida immigration facilities like Alligator Alcatraz. This facility not only inflicts profound harm on the people detained within it — often in conditions that resemble those of concentration camps — but also poses a serious threat to the surrounding environment, one of Florida’s most vital and fragile ecosystems. No one — regardless of immigration status — deserves to be subjected to inhumane treatment. Reports of abuse, overcrowding, lack of medical care, and psychological trauma inside this facility point to a system that is failing to uphold the most basic standards of human dignity and justice. This is not how a country founded on liberty and human rights should treat people. In addition to the moral and humanitarian crisis, the location of this facility in the Everglades is an environmental disaster. The Everglades are not only home to countless endangered species and essential to Florida’s ecosystem, but they are also a national treasure under constant threat. Industrial activity, including detention operations, contributes to pollution, habitat destruction, and long-term ecological damage that Floridians — and future generations — will pay for dearly. I urge you to take immediate action to shut down this facility. Alternatives to detention exist and are far more humane, cost-effective, and in line with American values. We must find a better way — one that ensures both the humane treatment of people and the protection of Florida’s precious natural resources. We are watching closely, and we expect you to uphold the principles you were elected to defend: human dignity, responsible stewardship of our environment, and justice for all.