Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the opening of “Alligator Alcatraz,” a new immigration detention facility in the Florida Everglades, marking a step forward in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agenda.
Dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” for its remote, alligator-inhabited setting and resemblance to the former Alcatraz federal prison in San Francisco Bay, the facility opened on June 19 after being under construction for eight days.
President Donald Trump commented on the location of the facility, praising its isolation and natural environment.
“The incredible thing is picking the site, because the site is one of the most natural sites,” Trump said. “It might be as good as the real Alcatraz.”
DeSantis shared that the center is designed to hold up to 3,000 individuals and is equipped with more than 200 security cameras, over 28,000 feet of barbed wire and 400 security personnel, according to WLRN.
The governor established a state of emergency, allowing him to take executive action, including building the facility. Detainees are currently being held in repurposed trailers originally developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for emergency housing.
On July 1, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced on Instagram that the newly constructed detention facility would be “funded largely by FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program.”
The funding structure for the project includes both federal and state contributions, with initial expenditures covered by Florida taxpayers and future reimbursement for such expenditures through FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program.
That same day, President Donald Trump held a press conference alongside Noem and DeSantis to address national border security and discuss Alligator Alcatraz. During the event, Noem emphasized the administration’s commitment to expanding detention efforts.
“We absolutely have to have this big, beautiful bill that has the funding so that we can continue this operation and we can get those bad criminals off of our streets,” Noem said.
The “Big Beautiful Bill,” which was signed into law on July 4, aims to increase funding for enforcement and detention infrastructure.
Despite receiving praise from the president, the creation of Alligator Alcatraz has sparked much public outrage amongst immigration rights activists, environmental advocates and members of the Florida community.
Some medical professionals and migrant advocates have expressed concern over reports of overcrowded conditions, unsanitary food, maggot infestations, limited medical care, and inadequate access to legal representation.
Environmental groups such as “Friends of the Everglades” have filed a lawsuit over the facilities construction, citing ecological concerns for the protected areas of the Everglades, according to MSNBC.
Azra Kadric, a psychology student at Georgia State University and a humanitarian activist, voiced strong opposition to the facility, drawing parallels to the conditions present in concentration camps.
“This place is deeply disturbing. It sounds almost similar to a concentration camp,” Kadric said.
The controversy has also sparked broader discussion about how immigration enforcement and detention systems intersect with profit-driven models, particularly in relation to federal contracting and detention centers run by private corporations. Critics such as the Vera Institute of Justice say these models create financial incentives in efforts of detaining more immigrants.
Immigrant advocates, such as the American Immigration Council, argue that the labor and presence of immigrants are not only beneficial to the economy but are also commodified within systems that benefit from both their participation and their criminalization. According to the American Immigration Council, immigrants often fill roles in sectors such as agriculture, construction, healthcare, and service industries, contributing significantly to economic productivity.
Kadric said it is important to increase support services such as legal assistance and housing for immigrant communities affected by deportation efforts.
“There should be grace given to immigrants who are just trying to build a better life,” Kadric said.
Copy edited by Damenica Ellis
