Free Republic

A group of Florida Democratic lawmakers said Thursday that they were denied access to the new “Alligator Alcatraz” immigrant detention facility due to “safety concerns.” The denied legislative oversight visit came less than one day after the first batch of illegal immigrants arrived at the Everglades facility. The visit was unannounced. The Democratic lawmakers at the facility were Florida state Sens. Shevrin Jones and Carlos Guillermo Smith, as well as Florida state Reps. Anna Eskamani, Angie Nixon, and Michele Rayner. Some of the lawmakers provided statements decrying their denied entry. “Florida law gives legislators the authority to make unannounced visits...

In open letters addressed to House Speaker José Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, and House Democratic Caucus members, Rep. Anika Omphroy, D-Lauderdale Lakes, accused fellow Democrat Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando of bullying her in the presence of several others at the event Saturday and said she still feared retaliation from the progressive lawmaker and his social media followers. “There still looms the serious possibility of retaliation and attacks on my person, creditability, and/or my ability to effectively legislate,” she said. Smith disputed her account, saying “the details in her letter are simply false and did not occur.”