Florida lawmakers argued state law grants elected officials access to inspect state-operated facilities without approval, but the Florida Division of Emergency Management denied their request.

Florida lawmakers worried about “humanitarian concerns” were denied entry into the new detention center dubbed as “Alligator Alcatraz” Thursday, just hours after the arrival of its first group of detainees.

In a surprising and possibly unlawful act, five state legislators were denied entry Thursday into a taxpayer-funded migrant detention center deep in the Everglades, raising questions about what will happen behind the razor-wire fences that are being erected surrounding the controversial facility the state has named Alligator Alcatraz.