DeSantis Administration Plans Rapid Everglades Migrant Detention Facility

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's administration rapidly constructed a large immigration detention center, dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," in the Everglades without informing local officials, as revealed by over 100 emails obtained by The Associated Press. The facility, designed to house thousands of migrants in tents and trailers, was built in days on land seized through an executive order that allowed the state to bypass laws and regulations, drawing criticism for abuse of power. Local authorities in Collier County, a wealthy and predominantly Republican area, were reportedly chasing rumors about the project while state personnel had already begun construction and coordinated vendors on site. The executive order granted sweeping authority to suspend statutes or rules perceived as obstructing the immigration emergency response. Frustration among local officials was evident, with one describing the lack of communication as "not cool." The detention center lies on the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, property owned by neighboring Miami-Dade County, further complicating local coordination and transparency.