Local protesters travel hours to rally against “Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility

On Sunday, March 22, LWVSPA co-sponsored a bus trip for 50 faith leaders and people of conscience from the St. Petersburg area, traveling eight hours roundtrip to stand in vigil alongside 175 people outside the cruelly dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility in the Everglades. Together, they joined a growing movement calling attention to inhumane conditions and the erosion of due process. Fifteen members of the League of Women Voters were among those present. The Workers Circle generously underwrote the bus. 

Florida has made more immigrant arrests than any other state; about one-third of all the detainees nationwide are in Florida. About 1,500 detainees are being kept at this concentration-like camp in the middle of the Everglades within a fragile natural ecosystem that is home to the Miccosukee tribe’s ancestral lands. The conditions at this facility are so horrific that they have been labeled as torture by Amnesty International.

Faith leaders, tribal leaders, activists, organizers, and family members of detainees from across the state addressed the crowd. Among them was Jesus, a teenager whose father has been detained inside “Alligator Alcatraz” since February. It was his first time speaking publicly, and his resolve and courage were unmistakable. Arianne Betancourt, a fierce advocate for ending unjust detention, also spoke. She has been a steady presence at the vigils since her father was detained in October 2025. Courtney Prokopas, incoming LWVSPA Immigration Justice Co-Chair, gave the vigil’s call to action: pressure your local city council or commission to end its 287(g) agreements, naming how 287(g) agreements are the primary driver of mass detention in Florida.

The journey itself was an extension of the work. On the bus ride down, participants engaged in a LWVSPA led teach-in on 287(g) agreements, building shared understanding of how these policies function and their impact statewide. On the return, attendees took part in a pair-and-share debrief to process what they witnessed, reflect on key takeaways, and equip them to share their experiences and new-found knowledge with their wider communities.

As the group passed through Immokalee, Rev. Wesley Snedeker offered a guided tour, grounding the experience in the history and power of farmworker organizing, predominantly led by migrant communities. Immokalee stands at the forefront, having endured one of the largest ICE raids in Florida.

For those looking to stay engaged, weekly vigils are held every Sunday from 4 to 5 pm in front of the Pinellas County Justice Center, standing in solidarity with those gathering outside the detention facility.

The day was not only an act of witness but also one of deepened understanding, connection, and commitment to ongoing action. Stay tuned for the next bus trip in the coming months.

If you would like to contribute to the Workers Circle fund for powering buses to vigils outside of “Alligator Alcatraz,” you may do so HERE.