Florida’s top emergency management official is firing back at Democrats who tried to manufacture outrage over the state’s new detention facility — dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”
Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management, appeared on “Jesse Watters Primetime” and said the political theater on display during a bipartisan tour of the facility was off the charts.
More than 60 lawmakers showed up over the weekend, but Guthrie said some came to act, not observe.
“Absolutely,” Guthrie said when asked if anyone was trying to stir up controversy. “One of my favorites was an individual who had an infrared thermometer and pointed it at a light bulb. And it was 110 degrees. I said, ‘Let’s actually pull that down to where the ambient air is at, and not point it at the light bulb.’”
Democrats also complained about the toilet setup. Guthrie made it clear that the facility meets or exceeds all standards, state and national.
“This is a standard lock-up toilet system that’s in any secured facility,” he said. “There is a sink there, there is a toilet there. Whether you’re brushing your teeth or using the restroom, it’s a restroom. That’s what people do.”
Then came the turkey sandwich drama. Florida Democrat Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz reportedly described it as “gray” — without even opening the wrapper.
“That might be one of my favorites,” Guthrie said. “She was about six feet away from the turkey sandwich box, that was in a wrapper, so I don’t know how she could tell it was gray. But let’s be honest — hospital food, school lunches under Michelle Obama’s program — it’s the same thing. Nobody’s getting filet mignon.”
Here’s the bottom line: Democrats aren’t upset about conditions — they’re upset that we’re actually enforcing immigration law. For years, they’ve catered to illegal immigrants while ignoring the needs of American citizens.
That ends now.
If you break federal immigration law — and especially if you commit a violent crime — you’re not getting a resort stay and a gift card.
You’re getting a cell.
It’s not supposed to be comfortable. It’s supposed to be a consequence.
If you break federal immigration law — and especially if you commit a violent crime — you’re not getting a resort stay and a gift card.
You’re getting a cell.
It’s not supposed to be comfortable. It’s supposed to be a consequence.
The lawmakers argued that the move unlawfully obstructed their oversight responsibilities, The Hill reported.
“The DeSantis Administration’s refusal to let us in wasn’t some bureaucratic misstep,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement, per The Associated Press. “It was a deliberate obstruction meant to hide what’s really happening behind those gates.”
The lawmakers were turned away from the state-run detention facility on Saturday, located deep in the Florida Everglades. In their lawsuit filed with the state Supreme Court, the plaintiffs argue that state law does not restrict their authority to carry out legislative oversight of the facility.
“There is no statute that permits the Governor to overrule the Legislature’s oversight authority. This lawsuit is about defending the rule of law, protecting vulnerable people inside that facility, and stopping the normalization of executive overreach,” the statement from the lawmakers added.
The group has filed suit against DeSantis and Florida’s emergency management agency chief, Kevin Guthrie, the AP noted.
A spokesperson from DeSantis’s office described the lawsuit as “dumb” and “frivolous.”
However, critics of Democrats argue that their descriptions of the facility have been excessive and exaggerated, as they consistently support illegal aliens over American citizens. Republicans also blame Democrats for inciting violence against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and agents tasked with locating and arresting criminal aliens.The White House and DeSantis, meanwhile, are urging Republican-led states to replicate Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” — a remote detention center for illegal immigrants situated deep in the Everglades.
The ongoing government shutdown, now deep into its second month, has caused significant disruptions across the federal government, with over 10,000 employees expected to be laid off, according to White House budget director Russ Vought.
These layoffs, which are part of a broader reduction-in-force (RIF) strategy, have sparked intense debates about the priorities of the current administration and the long-term effects of the shutdown on federal agencies and workers.
The shutdown has already resulted in the furlough of thousands of federal employees, and now, with the impending layoffs, the situation is expected to worsen.
Vought, who has been a central figure in the Trump administration\\\\’s efforts to reduce government size and spending, has indicated that the administration will continue with the layoffs, particularly targeting agencies that do not align with the administration\\\\’s priorities.
However, the situation is far from straightforward, as the White House\\\\’s plans were complicated by a recent court ruling in California that temporarily blocked some of the layoffs.
The ongoing shutdown, which began earlier this month due to the Senate’s inability to pass a funding measure, has affected a wide range of government programs and services.
While some federal employees have been temporarily furloughed, others, including active-duty military personnel, continue to work without pay. The Trump administration has attempted to alleviate some of the financial strain by using unspent research and development funds to ensure military personnel receive their paychecks.
However, this move is only a temporary fix, and it does not address the broader fiscal crisis that has resulted from the shutdown.
One of the most significant developments in recent days has been the announcement that more than 10,000 federal employees are expected to be laid off. This move is seen as part of the Trump administration\\\\’s ongoing efforts to reduce the size and scope of the federal government.
Vought, speaking on “The Charlie Kirk Show,” explained that the administration viewed the shutdown as an opportunity to eliminate what he called “bureaucratic waste” and “Democrat programs” that the administration opposes.
These programs include environmental justice initiatives at the Department of Energy and the EPA, as well as initiatives within the Minority Business Development Agency and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.