U.S. Department of Justice attorneys filed a nine-page document opposing a request by environmental groups for a temporary restraining order to halt operation of the facility.

Florida lawmakers argued state law grants elected officials access to inspect state-operated facilities without approval, but the Florida Division of Emergency Management denied their request.

“Alligator Alcatraz” lies about 40 miles west of Miami International Airport and halfway to Naples. Over the past week, the DeSantis administration built the detention camp in the idle airstrip, which the state seized, using its emergency powers.