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.

State law says members of the Legislature are allowed to “visit at their pleasure all state correctional institutions.”

Florida lawmakers worried about “humanitarian concerns” are attempting to access “Alligator Alcatraz” Thursday to inspect the grounds of the new detention center, just hours after the arrival of its first group of detainees.