Everglades Set for ‘Alligator Alcatraz’: Florida’s Controversial New Migrant Facility Gets Federal Nod
Everglades Set for ‘Alligator Alcatraz’: Florida’s Controversial New Migrant Facility Gets Federal Nod
In a rapid development that has ignited both support and controversy, the federal government has officially approved a new 5,000-bed migrant detention facility in Florida’s Everglades, a site officials are already dubbing “Alligator Alcatraz.” The approval came on June 23, setting the stage for the facility to open as early as next month.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who announced the project in an interview posted on X, highlighted the site’s natural barriers. “The perimeter’s already set by mother nature,” Uthmeier stated, emphasizing the remote, 39-square-mile location within the Everglades. Despite initial skepticism, he affirmed the state’s serious intent to proceed with what he described as a temporary facility, primarily utilizing heavy-duty tents and trailer units rather than permanent brick-and-mortar structures.
The proposed site, the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee, Florida, is an old, largely abandoned airfield originally conceived as the world’s largest airport in the 1960s before environmental concerns halted its construction in 1970. Governor Ron DeSantis’s office confirmed on June 24 that the governor intends to use emergency powers to seize control of the airport, following an “unreasonable” $190 million asking price from Miami-Dade County for the land.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem indicated that the facility’s construction and operation would be largely funded by FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program. In a statement, Noem underscored the administration’s commitment to “mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens,” aligning with a broader strategy under former President Donald Trump, who had previously proposed reopening the original Alcatraz as a prison in May.
The moniker “Alligator Alcatraz” originates from Uthmeier’s description of the site’s unique, and potentially hazardous, natural surroundings. He quipped that the abundant alligators and pythons would serve as a natural deterrent, making escape virtually impossible. However, this aspect, along with the facility’s very existence, has drawn sharp criticism from environmental and indigenous groups.
On June 22, local advocates organized protests, raising alarms about the potential ecological impact on the fragile Everglades ecosystem. Organizations like Friends of the Everglades have launched petitions, warning that the human waste, traffic, and associated development would be a “disaster” for the area. Members of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, whose communities reside nearby, have also voiced concerns, stressing the potential health implications for both the environment and local families.
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