Trump Tours Controversial ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ as Florida Detention Center Opens Today

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – President Donald Trump is visiting a new, highly controversial immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades today, marking its official opening. Dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by state officials, the facility is a key component of Florida’s aggressive efforts to support Trump’s national immigration crackdown, though it has drawn widespread condemnation from critics.

The compound, quickly erected with heavy-duty tents and temporary buildings about 45 miles west of Miami, is strategically located in the isolated, alligator-filled swamps of the Everglades. Supporters, including Governor Ron DeSantis, tout its remote location as a deterrent, sending a clear message to those entering the country illegally. DeSantis confirmed Trump’s visit, stating the facility, which could house up to 5,000 detainees and cost an estimated $450 million annually, would be “ready for business” today.

However, the site’s opening has ignited fierce opposition. Hundreds of environmentalists, immigrant advocates, and Indigenous leaders are protesting the facility, decrying it as an inhumane makeshift prison camp and a cruel political stunt. Concerns are also mounting over the potential ecological damage to the sensitive wetlands, with lawsuits already filed to halt its operation. Critics also point to Florida officials’ use of emergency powers to fast-track construction, bypassing standard regulations.

Despite the backlash, the Department of Homeland Security, under Secretary Kristi Noem, has applauded the initiative, which aims to significantly expand detention capacity. The facility will hold immigrants arrested by Florida law enforcement under federal programs and those in ICE custody, aligning with the Trump administration’s goal to drastically increase migrant detention beds nationwide.

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