Earlier this month Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a plan that has sparked both praise and protest.
Dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” the temporary detention facility will rise from the forgotten tarmac of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport. It’s an isolated stretch of concrete about 50 miles west of Miami.
NEW: DHS has approved Florida AG @AGJamesUthmeier’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ proposal for detaining illegal aliens at an abandoned airport in the middle of the Florida Everglades, as the state of FL continues to assist the Trump admin w/ deportation efforts.https://t.co/JMTKZxyE5L
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) June 23, 2025
The plan is to detain up to 5,000 undocumented immigrant, especially those with criminal records, in a location so remote that escape becomes a joke. After all, it’s tough to scale a wall, wade through waist-high water, and dodge pythons and gators.
Supporters call it a cost-effective win. The state avoids building high-tech fences and instead relies on the Everglades’ natural moat: thick swamp, carnivorous wildlife, and punishing heat.
Instead of concrete buildings, the site will use heavy-duty tents and trailers. Security would be provided by the National Guard.
BREAKING: DHS has approved “Alligator Alcatraz” — a new facility in Florida to detain illegals surrounded by a swamp filled with alligators pic.twitter.com/0aN9BdikkO
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 23, 2025
Some see more risk than reward.
Environmental groups like Friends of the Everglades have begun sounding alarms.
They argue the project risks undoing decades of preservation efforts. Some remember the 1970s, when an attempt to build a massive jetport in the same area was scrapped after fierce backlash.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniela Levine Cava has raised concerns about the project’s impact on water and air quality.
Indigenous groups and residents protested near the site on June 22, claiming the facility threatens both the environment and the dignity of those it intends to house.
Some also question the humanity of the plan. Bearing heat, insects, and the odd alligator does indeed sound rough.
It sounds rough because it is. Still, the individuals being detained didn’t exactly knock on our front door and wait to be invited in. Many have criminal records.
Uthmeier, along with the Department of Homeland Security, sees the project as filling a pressing need.
Florida has been a strong partner in ICE’s 287(g) program, which trains local law enforcement to assist with immigration enforcement.
Alligator Alcatraz fits neatly into this framework.
Funding is coming, in part, from FEMA’s shelter and services program. Originally intended to help states handle emergencies involving displaced individuals, FEMA funding has been increasingly used to support immigration-related efforts.
In this case, it helps cover operational costs (like tents, transportation, and staffing) without drawing directly from Florida’s budget.
Critics argue this stretches FEMA’s mission too far, especially with hurricane season looming. Supporters counter that it’s a smart, flexible use of federal dollars to meet a federal problem.
Either way, FEMA’s involvement signals just how intertwined immigration and emergency response have become in practice, if not in principle.
It sounds like a bad movie pitch: swamps, snakes, tents, and a name straight from the bargain bin thriller section. “Alligator Alcatraz” practically markets itself.
Still, there’s a clear intent: deterrence through remoteness.
No razor wire required when your perimeter patrol includes a few dozen reptiles.
The environmental questions deserve real answers. Oversight is crucial if this site is to function without doing long-term harm. It will require restraint and responsibility from state leaders. That’s not too much to ask.
Controversial? Certainly. Necessary? Arguably. Memorable? No question.
Florida has made its position clear. In a nation divided over immigration, this state isn’t sitting on the sidelines.
They’re using their resources to defend its borders and enforce the law.
And if a few alligators end up playing security guard? Well, they might just be cheaper staff than your typical government employee.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
