Alligator Alcatraz Closes

JOINING US. GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS AS ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ IS CLOSED, MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY AT THE FACILITY LOCATED IN THE EVERGLADES. NOW THE MIAMI-DADE MAYOR SAYS SHE WANTS THE SITE SOLD TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR PERMANENT CONSERVATION. THE DETENTION FACILITY IS BUILT ON THE SITE OF THE DATE. COLLIER TRAINING AND TRANSITION AIRPORT. MIAMI DADE COUNTY OWNS THE LAND. MAYOR DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA SAYS THEY WANT TO SELL AND TRANSFER ALL COUNTY CONTROLLED LANDS AT THE SITE FOR INCORPORATION INTO THE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN. THE MAYOR SAYS THE GOAL IS TO PERMANENTLY PROTECT THE LAND FOR EVERGLADES RESTORATION. IN THE MEANTIME, WGCL REPORTER MIKE BRAUN ATTENDED THE GOVERNOR'S PRESS CONFERENCE AT ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ. >> ALMOST A YEAR TO THE DAY THE DETENTION FACILITY WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED DESANTIS WAS JOINED BY U.S. BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN TO CONFIRM THE SITE IS SHUTTING DOWN ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ >> FULFILLED THE ROLE THAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO SERVE. >> TODAY AND NOW HAS 0 DETAINEES. >> IT HAS HELPED REMOVE MANY, MANY DANGEROUS PEOPLE FROM THE STREET. >> AND GET THEM OUT OF NOT ONLY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, BUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. >> BUT IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES SAY THE FACILITY WAS NEVER SAFE OR HUMANE FOR HOLDING PEOPLE. THE SANTA SAYS THE SITE WAS ALWAYS CONSIDERED TEMPORARY WITH PLANS TO BREAK IT DOWN AFTER WAS NO LONGER NEEDED. THE DEMOBILIZATION EFFORTS HERE AT THIS FACILITY >> ARE UNDERWAY. WE STOOD THIS UP. WE SURGED CRITICAL RESOURCES. WE BUILT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WE WERE ABLE TO MANAGE VERY COMPLEX OPERATIONS AND WE ARE ABLE TO EFFICIENTLY EXECUTE THE MISSION WHEN CALLED UPON. >> HE SAYS THAT BREAKING DOWN FACILITY, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 21,000 DEPORTATIONS DURING THE YEAR WAS OPEN. WE'LL TAKE ABOUT 7 TO 14 DAYS. SO AS OF NOW. >> THIS FACILITY HAVING THIS. >> HAS LED TO ALMOST 21,000 DEPORTATIONS AND THOSE WOULD BE PEOPLE BY AND LARGE WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED BACK INTO SOCIETY AND FLORIDA HAD THIS SPACE NOT BEEN THERE FOR WGC IN USE. I'M MIKE BRAUN. >> FLORIDA AND CARIBBEAN DIRECTOR AT THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. AT LEAST BENNETT JOINS US NOW. THIS BENNETT, YOUR GROUP, ALONG WITH FRIENDS OF THE EVERGLADES FILED A LAWSUIT. IT'S ALMOST EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO TO THE DAY CLAIMING STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS BROKE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS WITH THE IMMEDIATE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACILITY AND NO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS. LATER, THE MICCOSUKEE TRIBE JOINED THE LAWSUIT TO PROTECT THEIR TRIBAL RIGHTS. NOW THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS ANNOUNCED THE FACILITY IS SHUTTING DOWN. WHAT IS YOUR REACTION? >> AFTER A YEAR OF A REALLY HARD FIGHT WITH OUR PARTNERS ACROSS COALITION, NOT JUST ENVIRONMENTALIST BUT IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS. AND, YOU KNOW, JUST EVERYDAY FLORIDIANS. I THINK WE CAN CELEBRATE. TODAY IS A DAY THAT THERE ARE NO LONGER PEOPLE BEING HELD IN CAGES IN THE EVERGLADES AND THAT ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ IS CLOSING DOWN. SO I THINK WE HAVE TO STOP AND ACKNOWLEDGE THIS MILESTONE. BUT WE ARE ALSO FEELING THE PUSH TO KEEP FIGHTING UNTIL THE SITE IS ACTUALLY FULLY RESTORED BECAUSE THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO ON THAT FRONT. >> WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CONCERN NOW THAT THE FACILITIES ACTUALLY EMPTIED IT? >> I HAD 2 CONCERNS. THE FIRST IS JUST THAT WE KNOW THERE ARE STILL GENERATORS ON THE SITE. THERE ARE STILL 24 HOUR LIGHTS. SEWAGE IS BEING HELD ON THE SITE. ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE THREATENING BIG CYPRESS BEFORE ARE STILL THERE. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THAT IS TAKEN OFF THE SITE AND REMEDIATED, BUT WE'RE ALSO REALLY CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY NOT BE THE END THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA COULD TRY TO USE THIS FACILITY FOR SOME OTHER DESTRUCTIVE PURPOSE OR TRY TO REOPEN ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ AGAIN. AND SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO REST UNTIL WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT BIG CYPRESS IS SAFE, RESTORED AND CAN BE ENJOYED BY EVERYONE. AGAIN. >> WHAT HAPPENS NOW TO THE LAWSUIT SAYS THE FACILITY IS ACTUALLY CLOSING. >> PAT? WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE SPIN THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM THE GOVERNMENT FROM THE BEGINNING, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DOUBLE SPEAK, A LOT OF DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIONS TO THE MEDIA AND WHAT THE COURT WAS HEARING. WE'RE VERY INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THE TRUMP AND DESANTIS ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE TO SAY TO THE COURT. AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO GOING BACK TO DISTRICT COURT AND SEEING UNDER OATH WHAT THESE OFFICIALS HAVE TO SAY. WE WANT TO KNOW FOR SURE THAT THIS FACILITY IS SHUTTING DOWN AND IT'S NOT GOING TO REOPEN. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO PRESS AHEAD. >> FROM THE VERY START OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACILITY YEAR AGO. THE GOVERNOR STATED THIS WAS A TEMPORARY FACILITY AND IT WAS MEANT TO BE JUST THAT. SO WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE TIMING OF HIS CLOSURE NOW AND WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR COURT CASE? >> WELL, THE RECORDS MAN COVERAGE SHOWED THAT THE INTENT WAS TO OPEN OR KEEP THE FACILITY OPEN FOR UP TO 3 YEARS. SO WE FEEL LIKE PERHAPS WE THAT LEAST SAVED BIG CYPRESS, 2 YEARS OF DAMAGE BY STOPPING IT. NOW. AND WE DO THINK IT'S NOTABLE THAT THEY'RE SHUTTING DOWN THE SITE AS WE ARE GETTING READY TO HEAD BACK TO DISTRICT COURT. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE FEELING CONFIDENT THAT THE PRESSURE FROM THE PUBLIC FROM THE COURT SYSTEM, FROM THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS WORKING. AND WHAT FOOTPRINT? >> DOES THIS FACILITY LEAVE ON THE EVERGLADES? >> WELL, IT LEAVES HUNDREDS OF SQUARE FEET OF NEW PAVING THAT WASN'T THERE BEFORE THE FACILITY WAS BUILT. IT LEAVES THE RISK WITH THAT PAVEMENT OF MORE STORM WATER RUNOFF INTO THE SURROUNDING EVERGLADES. THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR AND THAT MAY STILL CONTAIN CONTAMINANTS THAT ARE RUNNING OFF. AND THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE LONGSTANDING IMPACTS OF THE WILDLIFE TO THE FLORIDA PANTHERS IN THE FLORIDA BATTLE TO BATS AND THE PLANTS THAT LIVE IN THIS AREA THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME FOR THEM TO BOUNCE BACK FROM IF THEY CAN. AND SO ONE THING THAT WE ARE CALLING FOR, AS WE KNOW WHAT A LOT OF THE DAMAGE IS, BUT WE KNOW THAT MUCH MORE OCCURRED BEHIND THE BARBED WIRE FENCES THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN LEARNED ABOUT YET. AND WE THINK THAT A PUBLIC TRANSPARENT PROCESS IS GOING TO BE NECESSARY TO COME UP WITH A RESTORATION PLAN, AN ALTERNATE PLAN TO MAKE SURE THE SITE IS NEVER USED AND ABUSED THE WAY IT WAS AGAIN. >> AND CAN YOU TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE RESTORED AND CAN THE DAMAGE IS EVEN BE FIXED? >> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THE DEVIL IS REALLY GOING TO BE IN THE DETAILS HERE. BUT THE FIRST STEP IS GOING TO BE TO GET ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES AND CONTAMINANTS OFF THE SITE. THAT IS THE EASIEST FIRST STEP AFTER THAT. WE'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO RELY ON THE EXPERTS TO TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT. >> AND IT'S A BIT PREMATURE. BUT YOU KNOW, WHO WOULD ACTUALLY BE CLEANING UP THE SITE AND DOING THIS RESTORATION PROCESS AND WHAT COST ICE TO TAXPAYERS. >> I THINK THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION HERE, RIGHT? MIAMI-DADE COUNTY OWNS THE SITE THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA COMMANDEERED IT AND MADE THIS MESS WITH THE HELP OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN PARTNERSHIP. SO THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO'S GOING TO BE ON THE HOOK. BUT THE END OF IT AS WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LET OUR GOVERNMENT OFF THE HOOK AND THAT THEY DO THE RIGHT THING BY BIG CYPRESS IN THE EVERGLADES. AND YOUR GROUP HAS STATED IT WANTS THIS TO NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. SO IS. >> ARE THERE STEPS IN PLACE? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ENSURE THIS? >> YEAH, WE'RE EXPLORING OPTIONS RIGHT NOW. BUT I THINK WHAT WE KNOW FOR SURE IS THAT THE SAFEGUARDS THAT WERE ON THE SITE TO BEGIN WITH WEREN'T ENOUGH. WE CAN'T WORK WITH THE STATUS QUO ANYMORE. I THINK THERE'S BEEN A REAL BREACH OF THE PUBLIC'S TRUST WHEN THIS FACILITY WAS STOOD UP FOR THE BREACH OF OUR TRUST. AND THE HUMANITY OF OUR GOVERNMENT AND THE RULE OF LAW AND ITS WILL AND ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE LEGAL SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE AND THAT THE LAND IS IN THE HANDS OF STEWARDS WHO ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO TAKE THE JOB SERIOUSLY TO PROTECT BIG CYPRESS. >> AND HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE ACTUAL LOCATION WHERE AL KUT ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ WAS KILLED? HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THAT LAND USED IN THE FUTURE? >> YEAH, I THINK WE WANT TO SEE A CONSERVED. IT'S A PART OF BIG CYPRESS AND THE GREATER EVERGLADES ECOSYSTEM AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS IT ALL OF THIS TIME SINCE THE LATE 1960'S, 1970'S AT THIS ONE RUNWAY WAS BUILT. IT HAS BEEN A WEAKNESS FOR THAT SITE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN IT. AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT NOW WHAT TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT KIND OF EXPLOITATION DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. >> ALL RIGHT. ELISE BENNETT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HERE'S THE FACTS FROM THE WTC YOU NEWSROOM. THE EVERGLADES ARE THE ONLY PLACE ON THE PLANET WHERE ALLIGATORS AND CROCODILES LIVE TOGETHER IN THE WILD. THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE