Florida is moving forward with plans to detain migrants in a newly proposed facility deep in the Everglades, a remote location that critics have already dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”
The facility, part of Governor Ron DeSantis’s continued crackdown on undocumented immigration, is intended to hold migrants apprehended under state enforcement initiatives. The nickname reflects both the swampy, isolated nature of the site and growing controversy over its purpose.
Supporters argue the location will enhance security and reduce the risk of escapes, while opponents say the placement in a hard-to-reach and environmentally sensitive area raises serious human rights and logistical concerns.
“You don’t need to spend a fortune on fences when you’ve got alligators and pythons waiting outside,” Uthmeier said in a promotional video announcing the project, which he framed as a vital component of former President Donald Trump’s proposed mass deportation effort. The video even included dramatic slow-motion footage of snapping alligators.
Echoes of Trump-Era Ideas
Construction of the facility comes shortly after Trump suggested reopening the original Alcatraz prison — long known for its isolation on an island in San Francisco Bay — and reviving other controversial enforcement tactics. During his first term, Trump even reportedly considered digging an alligator-filled trench along the southern U.S. border, though he later denied the claim.
Florida’s new detention site repurposes the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, described by Uthmeier as “an old, mostly abandoned airfield” spanning about 39 square miles. Located roughly 36 miles west of downtown Miami and just six miles from Everglades National Park, the airstrip includes a runway nearly two miles long.
According to a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the facility’s annual operational cost is estimated at around $450 million. Despite the price tag, Florida officials insist it’s a bargain given the location’s natural security advantages.
Rapid Construction and Legal Concerns
Uthmeier announced the facility would begin holding detainees as early as the first week of July. He said the site’s basic infrastructure — composed of military-grade tents and trailers — allows for swift construction. The Florida National Guard is expected to assist with day-to-day operations, and the state has plans to add 5,000 detention beds across multiple locations, including “Alligator Alcatraz.”
The facility is part of a broader immigration enforcement strategy supported by the Trump campaign and Florida officials. The White House is pushing for at least 3,000 immigration-related arrests per day, citing the need for additional detention space. Some detainees have already been sent to Guantanamo Bay or deported to El Salvador’s controversial CECOT mega-prison.
Despite Uthmeier’s promises that detainees will receive proper legal treatment, critics argue the rush to build the facility — in both speed and scope — leaves too many unanswered questions about due process and humane treatment.
Local Officials and Advocacy Groups Sound the Alarm
“The speed at which this is happening has left little room for proper oversight or public input.”
Immigration advocates were even more direct in their criticism. Thomas Kennedy, spokesperson for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, called the project “cruel and inhumane,” noting the extreme heat and humidity of the Everglades in summer.
“They’re essentially proposing a tent city in one of the most hostile environments imaginable. It’s not only logistically unfeasible — it’s designed to be punitive,” he said.
Environmental Backlash
Environmental organizations have also condemned the plan, with the group Friends of the Everglades taking a leading role in opposing the facility.
“Opening the door to development in one of America’s most fragile and iconic environments would be a catastrophic mistake.”
That massive airport project, launched in the 1960s, was abandoned after outcry from environmentalists who warned it would destroy the South Florida ecosystem.
“This was a bad idea in 1969, and it’s still a bad idea now,” Samples told CNN. “To call this an abandoned site misses the point. It was abandoned because people fought to protect the Everglades then — and we’re going to do the same today.”
Legal and Federal Involvement
Florida officials offered to purchase the airstrip land — currently owned by Miami-Dade County — for $20 million under an executive order issued by Governor DeSantis, which declared a state of emergency over illegal immigration. That order grants the Florida Division of Emergency Management broad authority to collaborate with the federal government in responding to the “crisis.”
It remains unclear who currently controls the land. CNN has requested clarification from the Miami-Dade County mayor’s office.
Federal agencies have also signaled support for the state’s initiative. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a Shelter and Services Program with over $600 million available for projects like this one — funds that could help Florida offset construction and operational costs.
On Monday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised the facility on social media platform X, calling it “cost-effective and innovative.” She added, “We will expand facilities and bed space in just days, thanks to our partnership with Florida.”
A National Test Case?
With the construction of “Alligator Alcatraz,” Florida is quickly becoming a test case for the Trump campaign’s aggressive immigration agenda and a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement, environmental preservation, and civil liberties.
As July approaches and tents go up in the heart of the Everglades, the legal, environmental, and political battles surrounding the project are only beginning — and the rest of the nation is watching closely.