Florida Begins Everglades Construction of 5,000-Bed Immigration Detention Center

Florida is constructing a large immigration detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz" in the Everglades, designed to house up to 5,000 detainees and support President Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement policies. The facility, located at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, leverages natural barriers like swampland to enhance security and is expected to cost around $450 million annually, with funding largely from FEMA's Shelter and Services Program. Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized that the center will facilitate intake, processing, and deportation efficiently, with operations managed by the Division of Emergency Management and security enforced by the Florida National Guard. The facility will hold both federal ICE detainees and immigrants arrested under Florida's revived 287(g) program, which deputizes local law enforcement for immigration enforcement. However, the project has sparked significant opposition from environmentalists, Native American groups, and activists who argue it threatens the Everglades ecosystem and indigenous lands, leading to protests and a federal lawsuit demanding a stringent environmental review. Critics also condemn the facility as a symbol of cruelty and political theater, while supporters cite its strategic role in immigration control ahead of the 2024 US election.