The Miccosukee Tribe has  joined the lawsuit to stop the old jetport property from being used for the federal detainee facility, which the DeSantis administration has dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”

Betty Osceola, of the Miccosukee Tribe shared this message on July 15:

“On Monday (July 14), the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida filed to intervene as a plaintiff in the Friends of the Everglades vs. Kristi Noem lawsuit opposing Alligator Alcatraz.

“We do not take this step lightly.

“We value our positive working relationships with the state and federal leaders and appreciate Governor DeSantis’s and President Trump’s historic support for Everglades restoration. However, this project threatens that progress in the western Everglades, home to many Tribal villages and sacred sites.

“Environmental impacts have not been studied, and detainee transport occurs on the same route that our school buses drive.

“It is our constitutional duty to conserve the Everglades, and ensure the health, welfare and rights of our people. We have no option but to seek legal action to compel the removal of this facility.”