Wasserman Schultz Joins Soto, Frost, Moskowitz, State Lawmakers in Sanitized Tour of Everglades Detention Center

“There are really disturbing, vile conditions. This place needs to be shut the hell down,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz following the tour. “This place is a stunt and they’re abusing human beings here.”

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Darren Soto (FL-9), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) participated in a sanitized ‘tour’ by Florida’s Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) and federal officials. Several Florida state lawmakers were also given a tour. As expected, FDEM provided a limited inspection of what is described as horrific living conditions, rampant denial of due process, and irreversible damage to the Everglades and tribal lands.

Despite the sanitized nature of the tour, the Members reported seeing people held in cages, unsanitary eating conditions, people begging for freedom, a man who said he had been hospitalized for days, among other incredibly concerning conditions.

“There are really disturbing, vile conditions. This place needs to be shut the hell down,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz following the tour. “This place is a stunt and they’re abusing human beings here.”

Downloadable video of the post-tour press conference can be found here.

Recent reporting has uncovered inhumane conditions at the facility, including inoperable toilets, rampant mosquitoes and other insects, little to no access to showers or toothbrushes, limited and non-confidential access to attorneys, a detainee sent to the hospital, lights being on 24 hours a day, extreme temperatures, worms in food, and other cruel conditions.

There are also significant environmental concerns at the facility, which sidestepped all required environmental permitting, including light pollution, damaged wetlands, stolen habitats for local wildlife, and increased risk of spills into sensitive waters.

The tour was scheduled at the same date and time that the Members planned to conduct an unannounced oversight visit of the facility. The Members plan to return for an undisclosed inspection soon.

A joint statement by the Members released upon notice of the sanitized tour can be found here.

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