Florida officials have begun construction on a new migrant detention facility in the Everglades, a project informally nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” by state leaders and law enforcement officials.
The facility is intended to support President Donald Trump’s national immigration enforcement strategy and serve as a secure, isolated site for detaining individuals targeted for deportation.
The site, located at a former airport in a 30-square-mile stretch of the Everglades between Miami-Dade and Collier counties, began development Monday morning.
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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed that construction is underway and said the facility could be operational within 30 to 60 days.
“This is an old, virtually abandoned airport facility right in the middle of the Everglades,” Uthmeier said during a press briefing at the Miami-Dade–Collier training facility.
“Florida’s been leading on immigration enforcement, supporting the Trump administration and ICE’s efforts to detain and deport criminal aliens. The governor tasked state leaders to identify places for new temporary detention facilities. I think this is the best one, as I call it: Alligator Alcatraz.”
According to state officials, the facility will consist of large tents and other temporary infrastructure capable of housing up to 1,000 individuals at a time.
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Uthmeier emphasized the natural isolation provided by the Everglades, noting that the geography significantly reduces the need for expensive perimeter security.
“This 30-square-mile area is completely surrounded by the Everglades,” Uthmeier said.
“It presents an efficient, low-cost opportunity to build a temporary detention facility because you don’t need to invest that much in the perimeter. People get out there, there’s not much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons.”
Alligator Alcatraz: the one-stop shop to carry out President Trump’s mass deportation agenda. pic.twitter.com/96um2IXE7U
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) June 19, 2025
The site is expected to cost approximately $450 million annually to operate.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, stated that Florida will be able to request partial reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for some operational costs.
The project is part of a broader statewide effort to expand detention capacity in coordination with federal immigration enforcement priorities under the Trump administration.
We are working on cost-effective and innovative ways to deliver on the American people’s mandate for mass deportations. Alligator Alcatraz will expand facilities and bed space in just days, thanks to our partnership with Florida.https://t.co/NWdAnEUC0h
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) June 24, 2025
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis previously directed state leaders to identify potential sites for temporary detention in anticipation of increased enforcement operations targeting individuals with criminal convictions or final removal orders.
Despite rapid progress on construction, the plan has faced opposition from immigrant advocacy groups, environmental organizations, and critics of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Over the weekend, several hundred protestors gathered near the remote construction site to voice concerns about the facility’s environmental impact and treatment of detainees.
Environmental activists have raised alarms about building in the Everglades, a region considered ecologically sensitive.
Advocacy organizations have also questioned the decision to use a site that is largely inaccessible and isolated from public oversight.
State officials have responded by asserting that the facility is intended to house individuals who are already subject to removal orders or criminal convictions and that the location’s isolation enhances both security and efficiency.
Uthmeier concluded Monday’s remarks by reiterating the state’s readiness to move forward.
“We’re ready to go,” he said.
The development of the Everglades site follows recent remarks by President Trump expressing interest in reopening Alcatraz Island as a detention center.
Florida officials say their project accomplishes a similar goal by creating a secure, remote location for detaining individuals during processing and removal proceedings.
The facility, once operational, is expected to play a central role in Florida’s ongoing coordination with federal immigration authorities in enforcing immigration law at the state level.
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