On Tuesday, President Donald Trump will visit a new immigration detention facility in a remote part of the Florida Everglades, transforming it into a symbol of his crackdown on the border.
Alligator Alcatraz is the nickname given to the facility, which was set up on a rural airport with tents and trailers often utilized after a natural catastrophe. This term has angered immigrant activists but plays on the Republican president’s harsh deportation policies.
As he was departing the White House in the morning, Trump remarked, “This is not a nice business.” Then he joked that if they break out of prison, we’ll show them how to avoid an alligator.
Avoid running straight ahead. “Run like this,” he urged, making zigzag movements with his hand. And what do you know? Your chances increase by roughly 1%.
Local officials were stationed at the airstrip’s gate before Trump arrived. Cypress trees bordered the highway, where media vans and other cars were parked.
Near the facility, which is roughly 50 miles west of Miami and has the capacity to hold 5,000 detainees, protesters have assembled.
Some Native American leaders have also opposed building, claiming the territory is sacred, while others have questioned the possible damage on a fragile ecology and claimed Trump is attempting to send a terrible message to immigration.
However, the site’s remoteness and its location in swampland, which is home to alligators, pythons, and mosquitoes, are major selling points for the Trump administration.
The White House thinks it sends a message to detainees and the rest of the globe that breaking U.S. immigration laws would have serious consequences.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Monday that there is just one route leading in and a one-way airplane as the only means of departure. It is remote and encircled by harsh terrain and deadly wildlife.
Trump’s political image has traditionally revolved around his tough immigration policies and border crackdowns with Mexico.
Trump disputed rumors that he suggested creating an alligator-filled moat at the southern border during his first term in 2019. At the time, he stated, “I may be tough on Border Security, but not that tough.”
Trump has hinted that his government may take steps to revive the infamous and inaccessible island jail off the coast of San Francisco, Alcatraz, during his second term. In a similar vein, the White House has pushed the political shock value of transferring some immigrants who are awaiting deportation from the United States to a megaprison in El Salvador and others to a detention facility in Guantnamo Bay, Cuba.
A few of the concepts have proven to be unworkable. For instance, it would be extremely expensive to turn Alcatraz from a tourist destination into a prison, and Guantnamo Bay isn’t being used as frequently as administration officials had anticipated.
But the new Everglades prison facility came together in a flash. Former Florida Republican and current Democrat candidate for governor, former U.S. Representative David Jolly, referred to the facility as a heartless political ploy.
Day 1 at ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ where the 39 square mile property is now surrounded by 28,000 feet of razor wire.
On Tuesday, Governor Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump will be present at the site’s grand opening.
Although the state claims operationspic.twitter.com/JUsrFFH1vP, the site will begin with 1,000 beds.
July 1, 2025 Jason Delgado (@JasonDelgadoX)
Detainees held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are typically detained for offenses such as illegal entry or overstaying a visa. They are either contesting their removal in immigration court or waiting for ICE to place them on the next bus or aircraft home.
An immigrant is tried and detained under state or federal criminal jurisdiction, apart from the immigration system, if they are accused of or have committed a violent crime. In some situations, after serving their criminal sentences, individuals can be sent to ICE for deportation.
Construction of the Florida facility is being led by state officials, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is primarily responsible for reacting to natural disasters like hurricanes, is paying for a large portion of the project.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has credited Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier with creating the Everglades plan. The concept was first presented in a well-made film, complete with a hard rock soundtrack and unique graphics depicting red-eyed alligators.
The Department of Homeland Security shared a picture of alligators sitting in front of a barbed-wire-ringed, fenced-in complex while sporting ICE caps.
Through the sale of branded T-shirts and beverage container sleeves, the Florida Republican Party has raised money for the facility. By the time Trump gets there, the facility should be operational, according to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ suggestion on Monday.
The governor, who ran against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, has also emphasized how difficult it will be to get out of the site. Unless you want them to go somewhere, they won’t be leaving once they’re there. Good luck reaching civilization, DeSantis added. Thus, the security is outstanding.
Weissert provided a Washington report. This article was written by Chris Megerian in Washington, Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida, and Elliot Spagat in San Diego for the Associated Press.
