Five Democratic Florida lawmakers filed a lawsuit Thursday against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), alleging they were unlawfully blocked from conducting an unannounced inspection of the Alligator Alcatraz immigrant detention facility in the Everglades.

The state is inviting lawmakers to visit the migrant detention center, but turned away lawmakers who showed up unannounced.

The state legislators say they were not allowed to tour the migrant detention facility in the Everglades when they made a surprise visit on July 3rd.

Five Florida state lawmakers who were denied access to a new immigration detention center in the Everglades are suing Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The Florida Attorney General's office revealed serious criminal backgrounds of detainees at Alligator Alcatraz facility, including MS-13 gang activity.

"Alligator Alcatraz" is the name posted in front of the hastily converted immigrant detention facility in the Florida Everglades.

A Cuban musician who says he's a lawful permanent resident detailed inhumane and unsanitary conditions at "Alligator Alcatraz."

CBS News Miami’s Jim Berry explores the brewing backlash against Alligator Alcatraz – Florida’s controversial migrant detention center inside the Everglades. Joining him on the program is Florida State Sen.

Amid the controversy, emergency management officials on Wednesday invited state legislators and members of Congress to visit the facility on Saturday, setting up a 90-minute tour restricted to lawmakers.

Immigrants at Florida’s Everglades detention center speak out about ‘abusive’ treatment, one week after its opening