Miccosukee Tribe member calls for Everglades site to be transferred to tribal stewardship
State control of former detention center delays Miami-Dade County’s plans for the property
A Miccosukee Tribe member urged Miami-Dade County to consider transferring the former “Alligator Alcatraz” detention site to tribal stewardship, but the property remains under state control, according to reporting from the Florida Phoenix. Betty Osceola said the Miccosukee people would preserve the Everglades site if it became available. However, Miami-Dade County said Florida has not returned the land or provided a timeline for doing so, preventing the county from selling or transferring the property.
The Miccosukee Tribe clarified that Osceola’s comments reflected her personal views and not the tribe’s official position, according to the Florida Phoenix reporting. Chief Communications Officer Alvaro Zabaleta said Chairman Talbert Cypress has not issued a public statement or expressed an intention for the tribe to seek ownership or control of the land. The former immigration detention center site remains under the control of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
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