Florida Opens 5,000-Bed Alligator Alcatraz Detention Center Amid National Backlash

Florida officials, led by Governor Ron DeSantis and supported by President Donald Trump, have fast-tracked the construction of a large migrant detention center in the Everglades, nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz" due to its remote swampy location and surrounding wildlife. The facility, designed to hold thousands of detainees as part of a mass deportation effort, is funded partly by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and managed by the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Ahead of the facility's official opening and President Trump's scheduled visit, the Florida Republican Party has launched merchandise including t-shirts, hats, and beverage coolers branded with the "Alligator Alcatraz" theme, aiming to promote the detention center. The White House has described the center as an efficient and cost-effective tool in carrying out the largest mass deportation campaign in U.S. history, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasizing the center's deterrent effect due to its isolated location. However, the GOP’s merchandising effort has sparked significant backlash on social media, with critics condemning it as "evil," comparing it to Nazi concentration camp memorabilia and accusing the party of profiting from human suffering. Despite the controversy, the center is intended to relieve overcrowding in local jails and support immigration enforcement policies aligned with President Trump’s administration.