President Donald Trump expressed his desire to establish migrant detention facilities similar to the newly constructed “Alligator Alcatraz” in various states across the U.S.
“Well, I think would like to see them in many states. Really, many states,” Trump said during an event on Tuesday.
This facility, located at the remote Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Florida’s Everglades, is designed to accommodate up to 5,000 individuals. Operations at the center are set to commence on Tuesday.
The initiative is part of Trump’s agenda to escalate deportations by expanding the country’s detention capacity, with previous efforts that have already included transfers to Guantánamo Bay and a mega-prison in El Salvador.
In an interview with ABC News’ Mary Bruce, Trump was asked whether this new center could establish a standard for immigration facilities nationwide, to which he responded affirmatively, saying, “It can be.”
He further emphasized the facility’s advantages, citing its beauty and security. “They have a lot of bodyguards and a lot of cops that are in the form of alligators. You don’t have to pay them so much but I wouldn’t want to run through the Everglades for long. It will keep people where they’re supposed to be. This is a very important thing,” Trump elaborated.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned that Trump’s visit would serve as an opportunity to promote funding for more detention facilities, which are part of a comprehensive immigration reform bill that is anticipated to be voted on by the Senate on Tuesday, ahead of Trump’s July Fourth deadline.
“I think his trip to this detention facility actually underscores the need to pass the One Big, Beautiful Bill because we need more detention facilities across the country,” Leavitt stated.
According to a source familiar with the planning, maintaining the facility will cost Florida approximately $450 million annually, some of which will be reimbursed through FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program.
Leavitt described the facility as isolated, accessible only via one road, with the only escape route being a one-way flight. “It is isolated and surrounded by dangerous wildlife and unforgiving terrain. The facility will have up to 5,000 beds to house, process and deport criminal illegal aliens,” she added.
She highlighted the operational efficiency of the facility in relation to Trump’s mass deportation campaign.
“This is an efficient and low-cost way to help carry out the largest mass deportation campaign in American history,” Leavitt emphasized.
When questioned about the perilous location, Leavitt argued that the facility’s setting is beneficial for preventing detainees from escaping. “Well look, when you have illegal murderers and rapists and heinous criminals in a detention facility surrounded by alligators, yes, I do think that’s a deterrent for them to try to escape,” she stated.
She insisted on the necessity of protecting American citizens by removing public safety threats from the streets.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier shared his thoughts on X, referring to the facility as a “one stop shop” for executing Trump’s mass deportation agenda, asserting that its location minimizes security expenses due to the presence of dangerous wildlife.
“You don’t need to invest that much in the perimeter. People get out, there’s not much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons. Nowhere to go, nowhere to hide,” Uthmeier stated.
Various officials including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and Congressman Byron Donalds are expected to join Trump during his visit to the facility.
In a statement released on Monday, Noem commended the establishment of Alligator Alcatraz, noting that it would enable the detainment of some of the most dangerous individuals who entered the country during prior administrations.
“We will expand facilities and bed space in just days, thanks to our partnership with Florida. Make America safe again,” she declared.
DeSantis characterized the facility as “as safe and secure as you can be” last week.
However, environmental groups are currently suing to halt construction, claiming violations of the Endangered Species Act due to the use of protected land for the facility.
Protests took place along the highway leading into the Everglades on Saturday, with demonstrators consisting of environmental activists, Native Americans advocating for their ancestral lands, and others opposing the treatment of migrants.
image source from：abcnews
