Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz': New Migrant Facility Sparks Debate in Everglades

Florida has commenced construction on a new migrant detention facility situated in the Everglades, a project that Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has controversially dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz." Uthmeier stated that the surrounding natural environment, including alligators and pythons, will serve as a low-cost security system, negating the need for extensive perimeter investment. "If people get out, there's not much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons," Uthmeier remarked. The facility, a temporary repurposing of a 39-square-mile landing and training airport between Miami and Naples, features a 10,500-foot long runway and is designed to accommodate over 1,000 beds. Construction began weeks after President Trump reportedly ordered federal agencies to reopen the original Alcatraz prison, known for its inescapable nature. Operating this detention center is projected to cost the state approximately $450 million annually, according to a senior Department of Homeland Security official. However, the project has drawn criticism. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava expressed significant reservations, stating, "It is an area that we have invested as a nation, billions of dollars for protecting our natural environment, our water supply. It's an area that is under federal oversight, part of our restoration plans for the Everglades." Despite the concerns, Uthmeier indicated that the federal government has approved Florida's broader plan to establish 5,000 detention center beds across multiple facilities by early July. The Everglades site, utilizing light infrastructure such as heavy-duty tents and trailers, is expected to be operational by the first week of July. The Florida Immigrant Coalition, a grassroots movement group, has publicly stated that this timeline is unrealistic.