Florida Begins Construction on 5,000-Bed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Everglades Detention Facility

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced plans to open a large immigration detention facility called 'Alligator Alcatraz' in the Everglades, repurposing the abandoned Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport. The facility, designed to house up to 5,000 undocumented migrants temporarily, is expected to be operational by early July and will feature light infrastructure such as tents and trailers, relying on the surrounding swamp and wildlife like alligators and pythons as natural barriers. This project, which has received federal approval and partial funding support from FEMA, aligns with rhetoric from President Trump, who previously advocated for harsh border deterrents including alligator moats. The plan has drawn significant opposition from local residents and environmental groups concerned about water and air quality, ecosystem disruption, and the precedent it sets for development in protected wildlands. Officials argue the remote location minimizes perimeter security costs and the facility will expedite detention and deportation processes. However, Miami-Dade officials have requested further environmental reviews and due diligence before the site is fully utilized.