Trump Visits Controversial 5,000-Bed Florida Migrant Center Amid Protests

President Donald Trump visited Florida’s new migrant detention center, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” located in the Everglades near Collier County, to promote his administration’s deportation plans. The facility, built rapidly on a pre-existing airstrip and designed to hold up to 5,000 undocumented immigrants, has sparked intense protests from environmentalists, Native American tribes, and immigration advocates who warn it threatens protected wetlands, endangered species, and tribal lands. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis supported the project, calling it a necessary measure for immigration enforcement and border security, and suggested plans for additional similar facilities across the state. Opponents argue the center is a cruel spectacle that endangers the fragile ecosystem and cultural heritage, while supporters praise it as strong leadership and an effective deterrent to illegal immigration. The controversy also revived historical disputes over the land, which was previously the site of a halted airport project due to environmental concerns. As protests continue, legal challenges against the center have been filed, highlighting the ongoing national debate over immigration policy and environmental protection.