Florida’s "Alligator Alcatraz" Detention Center Nears Completion Amid Mounting Controversy

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Construction of a massive migrant detention facility in Florida’s Everglades, colloquially called “Alligator Alcatraz,” is nearing completion at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, a remote airstrip surrounded by alligator- and python-infested wetlands. The project, spearheaded under Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier, is set to begin operations in early July and will be capable of detaining up to 5,000 migrants at a cost of $450 million annually.

Officials have promoted the site—located about 43 miles west of Miami—as an “efficient” and “low-cost” solution for immigration enforcement, leveraging the Everglades’ natural hazards as a deterrent to escapes. Uthmeier emphasized that “if people get out, there’s not much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons,” minimizing the need for expensive perimeter security. The facility is being constructed with heavy-duty tents and trailers, with the state using emergency powers to commandeer the county-owned land and fast-track the development.

However, the project has drawn fierce opposition from environmentalists, Indigenous tribes, and human rights advocates. Groups such as Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity have filed a federal lawsuit, arguing the facility would inflict significant damage to the sensitive Everglades ecosystem, home to endangered species like the Florida panther. Native American leaders, including representatives of the Miccosukee Tribe, have condemned the project for encroaching on sacred land. Human rights advocates, including U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, have called the plan “cruel” and “inhumane,” citing health risks from the region’s oppressive heat, mosquitoes, and lack of adequate infrastructure.

Critics also object to the state’s $20 million offer for the county-owned land, which is far below its $190 million appraisal, and have demanded further environmental review. Despite these concerns, Governor DeSantis has defended the project, asserting it will have “zero impact” on the environment and is necessary to support federal deportation efforts. The facility is being constructed with federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Florida GOP has begun selling “Alligator Alcatraz” merchandise, capitalizing on the site’s notoriety.

As the facility nears completion, protests have intensified, with hundreds gathering to oppose the project. Critics warn of lasting ecological harm and inhumane conditions for detainees, while supporters argue it is a necessary step to address immigration. The state is also considering a second detention center at Camp Blanding in northeast Florida, marking a significant expansion of Florida’s immigration enforcement efforts.