Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration has fired back at a lawsuit filed by Democratic lawmakers seeking access to a controversial immigrant-detention center in the Everglades, saying they don't have a legal right to enter the facility "at their pleasure."

Five lawmakers filed the lawsuit in July after they made an unannounced visit to the facility dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz" but were denied access. They contended the denial was unconstitutional and violated state laws allowing access by legislators to correctional institutions.

But attorneys for DeSantis and state Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, in a response filed last week in Leon County circuit court, said the laws that the Democrats "invoked do not entitle them as individual legislators to enter Alligator Alcatra

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