Karoline Leavitt Defiant as ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Faces Closure: ‘We’re Not Backing Down!’
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defiantly claimed “we’re not backing down!” as she was confronted about the imminent closure of the “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention center in Florida.
The moment came as NBC News’ senior White House correspondent Gabe Gutierrez asked why the Trump administration is “backing down” against a so-called “activist judge” who has ordered the facility to wind down its operations in 60 days.
“We are not backing down!” Leavitt fired back. “We have always said we are going to continue to fight in the court of law for what’s right because we know that what this administration is doing with respect to all policy, but immigration policy is above the books.”
Read the exchange here:
GAVE GUTIERREZ: Briefly on another topic — Alligator Alcatraz. Last week, a judge under and environmental concerns lawsuit gave the administration 60 days to wind down operations there to state officials. The administration has not been shy fighting back against what it calls activist judges. But why is it backing down this time?
KAROLINE LEAVITT: We are not backing down! We have always said we are going to continue to fight in the court of law for what’s right because we know that what this administration is doing with respect to all policy, but immigration policy is above the books. And we are abiding by the nation’s immigration laws. And we think it’s despicable that an activist judge has inserted themselves in this migrant detention facility to the point where DHS is now having to relocate these illegal immigrants to other detention facilities around the country. That is an unnecessary burden on the Department of Homeland Security and these agents who should be removing these criminals from our community. That’s what the American people elected this president to do, so we’ve always maintained, Gabe, we’re gonna to comply with court orders that we are going to fight back. DHS is in compliance while we disagree with this decision and we will continue to fight it in court.
The “activist judge” in this case is Kathleen M. Williams, who ordered last week that officials there accept no new detainees and remove fencing, lighting, gas, and sewage waste receptacles within 60 days.
A request for a stay order to allow Florida to appeal the decision has been denied.
What’s more, in an Aug. 22 email first obtained by the Associated Press, Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie told South Florida Rabbi Mario Rojzman that “we are probably going to be down to 0 individuals within a few days.”
Rojzman and an executive assistant confirmed the email to the AP.
“Alligator Alcatraz” was opened just last month, after President Donald Trump and Homeland Security boss Kristi Noem toured the $250 million swamp pokey.
Watch above via Fox News.
