A group of democratic state lawmakers were turned away after attempted to walk in through the front gates of Alligator Alcatraz. Despite mounting concerns over the conditions inside, the facility received its first detainees on Wednesday.

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.