Trump Opens Florida 'Alligator Alcatraz' Detention Facility Housing 5,000 Migrants

President Trump visited a new immigration detention facility in the Florida Everglades, nicknamed 'Alligator Alcatraz,' which is designed to house thousands of detainees and capitalize on the remote, wildlife-filled location to deter escapes. During the visit, Trump advised migrants attempting to flee the facility to run in a zigzag pattern to evade alligators, joking that this increases their chances of escape by only one percent. The facility, constructed quickly on a remote airstrip with tents and trailers, has drawn criticism from immigrant activists and Native American leaders who highlight its cruelty and environmental impact. Trump and Florida officials, including Governor Ron DeSantis, emphasize the site's isolation and dangerous surroundings as key features for immigration enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security and Trump administration have leaned into the imagery of the facility's wildlife dangers, using it as part of the largest mass deportation campaign in American history. Critics condemn the detention center as inhumane, particularly due to its conditions in the harsh Everglades environment during summer and hurricane season.