On 23/6, Florida officials began constructing a detention center for immigrants at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, located deep within the Everglades. This area is home to a diverse range of wildlife, from hundreds of bird species to bobcats, panthers, American crocodiles, and alligators.
The project is touted as "efficient and cost-effective" because the natural environment will enhance security. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier nicknamed the facility "Alcatraz alligator jail," referencing the supposedly "inescapable" former prison on Alcatraz Island in California.
This is the Trump administration's latest measure in its policy to address undocumented immigrants. Some undocumented immigrants have been sent to prisons in El Salvador, as well as the detention camp at the US base in Guantanamo Bay.
News of the "alligator jail" immediately sparked controversy and drew criticism from immigrant rights and environmental activists.
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Construction of the "Alcatraz alligator jail" in Ochopee, Florida on 25/6. Photo: AP |
Construction of the "Alcatraz alligator jail" in Ochopee, Florida on 25/6. Photo: AP
The "Alcatraz alligator jail" sits along Route 41, the highway connecting Miami and Naples, which cuts through the Everglades. The facility is designed to be self-contained. Immigrants will be housed in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailers and tents, typically used for temporary shelter after natural disasters, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official said.
Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Director Kevin Guthrie stated the facility can hold up to 3,000 people, with the potential for expansion. The DHS official said it could accommodate 5,000 beds.
The "Alcatraz alligator jail" will have at least 200 surveillance cameras, over 8,500 m of barbed wire fencing, and more than 400 security personnel. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis added that about 100 National Guard troops will be deployed from Miami to support the facility.
Florida officials said they are adding evacuation plans in case of severe weather, such as hurricanes.
The facility's operating costs are estimated at around 450 million USD per year. The DHS official said Florida will cover the initial costs and then submit reimbursement requests to FEMA and DHS.
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Location of Dade-Collier Airport, the site of the "Alcatraz alligator jail" construction. Graphic: BBC |
Location of Dade-Collier Airport, the site of the "Alcatraz alligator jail" construction. Graphic: BBC
From a security standpoint, “If someone were to escape, they’d have to deal with a lot of alligators,” Governor DeSantis said. “They’re not going to get very far. It’s secure, it’s controlled.”
“You don’t have to have a lot of security perimeter. You’ve just got alligators and pythons waiting for anyone who wants to escape,” Uthmeier said in a video posted on X last month showing an alligator in slow motion attacking prey. “This is a one-stop shop for enacting Trump’s mass deportation plan.”
President Trump visited the "Alcatraz alligator jail" on 1/7. The trip offered a glimpse into the near-complete facility.
“The Everglades will force those captured to remain at the detention center. If they escape, teach them how to flee. Don’t run in a straight line; move like this. Their chances will increase by about 1%,” the president joked, moving his hand in a zigzag pattern.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the facility "is a great testament to what can be accomplished when the entire government works in sync." She urged other state governors to consider joining the White House in this effort.
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US President Donald Trump (left) and officials visit the "Alcatraz alligator jail" in Ochopee, Florida on 1/7. Photo: AP |
US President Donald Trump (left) and officials visit the "Alcatraz alligator jail" in Ochopee, Florida on 1/7. Photo: AP
The "Alcatraz alligator jail" has faced widespread opposition and criticism from immigrant rights activists, environmentalists, and the indigenous community.
“Anyone who supports this plan is an affront to human dignity,” said Florida Democratic Representative Maxwell Frost. Some activists likened the facility to "a concentration camp," evoking dark memories in American history, and noted the apparent lack of air conditioning or ventilation within the facility.
“We cannot stand idly by and watch Florida become a testing ground for policies rooted in fear and racism,” emphasized Bacardi Jackson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida.
Environmental groups argue that the construction threatens endangered species in the Everglades and are urging Florida to conduct an environmental impact assessment before proceeding. They have filed a lawsuit against FDEM and DHS, calling on the court to halt the "illegal construction of the jail in the heart of the Everglades."
Florida officials maintain that they will install air conditioning units operating 24/7 to help immigrants at the facility cope with the hot and humid weather.
According to court documents accessed by US media, Florida officials argue that the law cited by environmental groups in their lawsuit applies only to the federal government, not the state. They note the airport already operates around the clock, handling approximately 28,000 flights in the past six months, with two buildings operating 24 hours a day.
Nhu Tam (CNN, New York Post)
