Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Migrant Camp: A Look Back at Trump-Era Controversy

A controversial migrant detention facility, dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ in the remote Florida Everglades, sparked widespread debate during the Trump administration. Then-President Donald Trump, accompanied by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, toured the site, celebrating the harsh conditions intended for detainees.

The tented camp, located on mosquito-infested land west of Miami, was hailed by DeSantis as a model for states supporting Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Protesters gathered to oppose the facility, which was set to open for an initial intake of up to 1,000 detainees, with plans to expand to 5,000. Critics raised concerns about unsustainable environmental demands on the fragile wetlands and the potential for cruel treatment of detainees.

Trump dismissed concerns about the conditions, including the extreme July heat, and made light of the dangerous wildlife, suggesting alligators and snakes would deter escape attempts. The facility, costing Florida taxpayers an estimated $450 million, was to be patrolled by the Florida National Guard, with expectations of federal reimbursement.

Immigration advocates condemned the use of such a harsh environment for undocumented individuals, many of whom had no criminal charges. Lawsuits were filed by environmental groups and Native American tribes, citing a lack of environmental studies and the impact on ancestral lands. Democratic politicians also decried the camp as a ‘cruel spectacle’ designed for ‘physical and psychological torture.’

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