A new migrant detention center has begun operations deep within Florida’s Everglades, following approval from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The detention facility, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” because of its setting, was initiated by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. He stated the center’s purpose is to “support President Trump and [Homeland Security] Secretary Kristi Noem in their mission to resolve our illegal immigration issue definitively.”
Situated on an airstrip, the facility will serve as a temporary holding area for migrants awaiting deportation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). At present, the location features “heavy duty” tents and trailers in anticipation of the upcoming Florida summer.
The DHS is collaborating with Florida to expedite the construction process. Noem informed TIME via an emailed statement that “We are accelerating efforts to find cost-effective and inventive solutions to fulfill the American public’s demand for widespread deportations of criminal undocumented individuals.”
During an appearance on The Benny Show on June 23, Uthmeier spoke about the center, indicating an aim to establish 5,000 beds by early July. He noted that construction would be minimal because the center is situated in the heart of the Everglades—a national park wetland in South Florida teeming with alligators, snakes, and mosquitoes. “We thankfully won’t need to construct extensive brick and mortar… Nature provides significant perimeter security,” he commented on security measures.
Uthmeier released an announcement video featuring .
Images of the site depict the commencement of construction on the ecologically sensitive terrain, most recently under Miami-Dade County ownership. Law enforcement vehicles were seen transporting portable restrooms and industrial generators. The DHS estimates the facility’s annual operating cost at approximately $450 million, with eligibility for federal reimbursement. Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) holds about $625 million in Shelter and Services Program funds that could potentially support this initiative.
The facility is under construction at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, characterized by Uthmeier as a “nearly derelict airfield.” However, activists dispute this description.
On June 22, demonstrators gathered in the Everglades to protest the construction plans. Environmental activists highlighted that the wetlands are part of . Jared Jacobs of the Love The Everglades Movement stated at the protest: “[Alligator Alcatraz] is detrimental to our community, our environment, and our quality of life.”
Describing the center as an “embarrassment” for South Florida and the nation, he remarked: “It serves as a catalyst for a much more profound systemic issue, and we are witnessing its construction directly within our Everglades, adjacent to the Miccosukee [Tribe] homelands.”
The protest was orchestrated by the activist group, in collaboration with the Miccosukee tribe, indigenous to Florida. Talbert Cypress, a Miccosukee Business Council member, conveyed the tribe’s strong opposition to the center, emphasizing its proximity to 19 traditional Miccosukee and Seminole villages, and the Congressionally-authorized Miccosukee Reserved Area.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has similarly voiced apprehension regarding the project and requested further details concerning its potential ecological impact on the Everglades, stating that it would necessitate “extensive review and due diligence.”