Trump, DeSantis Open Florida Alligator Alcatraz Detention Center for 5,000 Migrants

President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have inaugurated a large state-run migrant detention facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Florida Everglades, designed to accommodate up to 5,000 detainees and expedite immigration hearings. The facility, built rapidly at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, leverages natural geographic barriers for security and will be staffed with deputized Florida National Guardsmen acting as immigration judges to speed up court processing, aiming to complete hearings within days. Trump praised the center’s security and efficiency, noting record-low border crossings and highlighting Florida’s leadership in immigration enforcement through cooperation with ICE. DeSantis encouraged other Republican-led states to adopt similar models to enhance immigration control and promote self-deportation. The facility represents a collaboration between state and federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, and is viewed as a blueprint for national immigration enforcement policy. Critics have condemned the harshness of the facility, but supporters emphasize its role in addressing bureaucratic delays and reducing illegal immigration.