Bynum and Frost Lead Dems in Demanding Closure of “Alligator Alcatraz”

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) and Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10) led 24 Democrats in sending a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Acting Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demanding the closure of the “Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility. The facility, located within the Everglades, is intentionally designed to subject detainees to inhumane living conditions. To pay for the facility, the Trump Administration is redirecting funding from FEMA’s Shelter and Services program.

“This kind of cruel rhetoric and deliberate endangerment further exemplifies the administration’s shameful, dehumanizing approach to immigration – an approach rooted in anti-immigrant hostility that is morally indefensible and in clear violation of fundamental human rights,” the Members wrote.

In addition to calling for the closure of the facility, the members also demanded clarity on the living conditions and funding of the facility, a public disavowment of the use of hostile environments as a method of immigration deterrence, and a commitment to humane treatment for all detainees at all detention facilities.

“This latest attempt by the Trump Administration to terrorize and intimidate immigrants is appalling,” said Rep. Bynum. “We have to stand up to these efforts and I’m thankful to Rep. Frost and my fellow signers for joining me in fighting back. This facility must be closed and immigrants must be treated with the humanity and respect that they deserve.”

"Erecting tents in the blazing Everglades sun, during hurricane season no less, and calling it immigration enforcement is nothing short of disgusting and cruel. Donald Trump and his Administration don’t care if migrant men, women, and children live or die – they only care about cruelty and spectacle,” said Rep. Frost.

The full list of signers is: Representatives Janelle Bynum, Maxwell Frost, Pramila Jayapal, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Eric Swalwell, Nydia Velázguez, Suzanne Bonamici, Delia Ramirez, Paul Tonko, Eleanor Holmes Norton, André Carson, Sarah Elfreth, Jan Schakowsky, Rashida Tlaib, Henry “Hank” Johnson, Kweisi Mfume, Val Hoyle, Jill Tokuda, Jennifer McClellan, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nikema Williams, Dwight Evans, Wesley Bell, Jesús “Chuy” Garcia.

Read the full letter here.

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