‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Tour Guide Describes ‘Taxing’ Experience He Had Showing Off Facility To Democrat Politicians

Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie said Monday on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime” that giving Democrats a tour of “Alligator Alcatraz” had been “taxing,” with some allegedly trying to exaggerate their experience.

Democrats and Republicans toured Florida’s new migrant detention facility Saturday, with Democrat lawmakers later calling to shut it down over claims of overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. While discussing the tour, Fox News’ Jesse Watters asked Guthrie whether he witnessed any lawmakers trying to “create controversy” by “making things up or exaggerating.”

“Absolutely. I think probably one of my favorites was an individual [who] had a thermometer, an infrared thermometer that they actually pointed at a light bulb, and it was 110 degrees,” Guthrie said. “I knew it was 110 degrees. I said, ‘Let’s actually pull that down to where the ambient air is at and not point it at the light bulb.’”

The bipartisan group included at least five members of Congress and about 20 state legislators, making them among the first elected officials to view and inspect the facility, according to Politico. After leaving the site, Democrats like Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz spoke to reporters and accused the facility of being an “internment camp,” the outlet reported.

Amid complaints about sanitation, Wasserman Schultz pointed out that each holding block contained three toilets with attached sinks on the tank, which is used for both drinking water and brushing teeth, according to CNN. Watters went on to ask Guthrie about the toilet system and other complaints raised by Democrats.

“Yeah. So the toilet system, you showed that already. This is a standard mock-up toilet system that is in any secured facility,” Guthrie said. “Again, we meet and exceed either the national standard or the state of Florida standard, whatever is a higher level, we meet and or exceed that standard.”

WATCH:

“This situation here, yes, there is a sink there. There is a toilet there, but as you indicated earlier, you do both of those things, whether you use a restroom or you brush your teeth, in a restroom, you know, also just eating food,” Guthrie added.

In addition to the toilet system, Wasserman Schultz told the media that government employees were offered “large pieces” of roast chicken and sausages during their tour, while detainees allegedly received “gray turkey and cheese sandwiches, an apple, and chips,” CNN reported.

“That might be one of my favorites, Jesse, is number one, it was a ‘gray turkey sandwich.’ Well, she was about six feet away from that turkey sandwich box that was in a wrapper that I don’t know how she could tell it was gray,” Guthrie said. “However, this is, think about it like this, Jesse, individuals that go to a hospital, individuals who go and get Michelle Obama’s lunches, are getting the exact same thing.”

“But then she turned around and asked as a part of that same question, if they want second portions, can they come and get it? So it’s either gray and it’s too nasty to eat or it’s OK,” Guthrie added. “And can I get a second helping?”

While Democrats who took the tour complained, Republicans who joined them quickly pushed back with Florida State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia dismissing their “political theater” and telling Politico the center is “clean, air-conditioned, and well-kept.”

“The rhetoric does not match the reality,” Ingoglia told the outlet. “It’s basically all political theater coming from the [Democrats]. What they’re saying is pure bullshit.”

Since President Donald Trump cracked down on illegal migrants and pushed to fulfill his vow of mass deportations, Democrats have pushed back in various ways. Some have advocated for illegal migrants like Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to be brought back to the U.S., taking taxpayer-funded trips to El Salvador, while others have been arrested for allegedly interfering and assaulting officials carrying out their duties.