President Donald Trump arrived at the site of a newly constructed immigration detention center in the heart of Florida’s Everglades on Tuesday, officially opening the facility known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz.’ Dubbed for its location among a swampy expanse teeming with alligators, the camp is expected to house up to 3,000 migrants and is projected to be the largest such center in the United States. The facility, which was built in eight days under an emergency order, costs $450 million annually to operate and will be fully funded by the federal government. Trump praised the site for its security, highlighting the natural barrier of alligators and swamps to prevent escape, and remarked that it would be used to prioritize the deportation of the so-called ‘worst of the worst’ migrants.
Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis, alongside Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, announced that the detention center would allow for expedited legal processes, with National Guard members serving as deputized immigration judges to hold hearings within 48 hours. DeSantis emphasized the collaboration between Florida and the federal government to expedite removals, while Noem stressed the need for illegal migrants to self-deport to avoid detention. Environmentalists and Democrats have expressed opposition, with protests occurring along Highway 41, and a lawsuit filed against federal and state agencies for potential ecological damage to the Everglades. Critics argue the facility represents an aggressive approach to immigration control, raising concerns about human rights and environmental impacts.