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A tribal leader told Newsweek that members of the Miccosukee Tribe in Florida are seeking legal remedies against state and federal officials because environmental efforts at Big Cypress National Preserve, adjacent to Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention center, have “taken a huge step backward.”
The Miccosukee people have lived in and cared for the land since time immemorial. They filed a motion on July 14 to join an ongoing lawsuit against state and federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Miami-Dade County, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
The suit claims that the Miccosukee villages, sacred sites, traditional hunting grounds, and other lands are at risk due to environmental degradation from construction and operation of the detention facility. The “TNT” site refers to Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, built in the 1970s but opposed by tribal members and conservationists.
Miccosukee Tribe Chairman Talbert Cypress told Newsweek that their concerns were not addressed before the quick construction and use for illegal migrants. “If they had listened to our concerns,” he said, “they would realize this is not a good idea.” The facility has no infrastructure, requiring generators and cellphone towers, at an annual cost of $450 million.
Cypress stated that Governor Ron DeSantis and the Trump administration’s focus on Everglades restoration conflicts with placing this project near protected lands. “It’s a huge step backward for restoration,” he said.
Betty Osceola, a Miccosukee Tribe member, stands in the Everglades near Alligator Alcatraz.
DeSantis claimed the facility would have zero impact on the environment. However, the Miccosukee and Seminole Tribes live within 2.5 million acres of Indian Territory, with traditional camps near the detention facility. Increased traffic and waste disposal are significant concerns.
Nonprofit organizations Friends of the Everglades and Center for Biological Diversity filed a complaint stating that the facility disrupts hydrologic connectivity and degrades environmental conditions, potentially undermining restoration efforts.
Elise Bennett from the Center for Biological Diversity said artificial lights evict endangered bats and increase Florida panther risks. Eve Samples from Friends of the Everglades noted that the detention center was built with no public input or environmental analysis, ignoring laws protecting water, wildlife, and national parks.
Judge Jose E. Martinez recused himself, reassigning the case to Judge Kathleen M. Williams, which could cause delays in potential relief.
📚 Reading Comprehension Quiz
According to the passage, why are the Miccosukee Tribe seeking legal remedies against state and federal officials?
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