Trump’s Spite: Veto Punishes Tribe That Opposed “Alligator Alcatraz”
In a rare move, President Trump vetoed the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act, which would have returned 30 acres of Everglades land to the Miccosukee Tribe. This decision, seemingly motivated by the tribe’s opposition to an immigration detention center, represents a break from the bipartisan support the bill had garnered. The veto has stalled environmental restoration efforts and land protection from climate change impacts that are supported by the tribe. Experts suggest the action is unusual, as land return to tribes typically has little opposition and bipartisan support. The House of Representatives was unable to override the veto, jeopardizing the project’s future.