1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to stand in strong opposition to the proposed immigrant detention facility being referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz,” planned for construction deep within the Florida Everglades. This project is a threat on multiple fronts: it is environmentally unsound, procedurally suspect, morally indefensible, and deeply disrespectful to the Indigenous communities whose sacred lands are at stake. Let’s be clear: this is not about alligators—it is about people. Human beings fleeing violence and hardship should not be locked away in remote swamplands, far from legal support, medical care, or public oversight. The isolation of the site is not incidental—it appears deliberately chosen to hide suffering, to limit transparency, and to avoid accountability. The location poses serious risks to both people and nature. The Everglades are one of the most delicate and ecologically significant ecosystems in North America. Building a massive carceral facility here endangers wildlife, threatens water quality, and disrupts the natural protections the wetlands provide against storm surge and climate change. The region is prone to flooding, heat extremes, and hurricanes—making it life-threatening for detainees and staff. Further, the land in question is sacred to Indigenous communities who were never meaningfully consulted. Proceeding with this project without tribal consent is a violation of sovereignty, trust, and decency. On top of these moral and environmental concerns, the process has lacked transparency. There has been no adequate public input, no thorough environmental review, and no justification for placing a detention center in such an inaccessible and sensitive location. Just days ago, Floridians took to the highways in protest. They stood not only for the protection of our lands, but for human rights, for Indigenous sovereignty, and for the basic idea that our immigration system should reflect justice—not cruelty. I urge you to oppose the construction of “Alligator Alcatraz” in the strongest possible terms. We must not allow a swamp to become a symbol of moral decay. We must not allow suffering to be hidden out of sight. Please stand with your constituents—and our children who do not deserve to grow up in a country disregarding land, liberty and life. Make your mark on the right side of history and stop this project from moving forward in any way possible.