Critics have condemned the facility as a cruel and inhumane threat to the ecologically sensitive wetlands, while Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials have defended it as part of the state's aggressive push to support President Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.

Conservation groups sued state and federal officials over construction of the migrant detention center last month, citing the lack of environmental reviews.

This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news analysis. It was originally published at The Conversation.