In the remote reaches of the Florida Everglades, an isolated airfield hosts a new immigration detention center that has garnered attention from Republican leaders as a potential blueprint for other states aiming to intensify detention and deportation measures. This facility, visited by President Donald Trump, along with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other officials, is an initiative pushed through by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration in a swift timeline, with operations ready to commence with incoming detainees as soon as Wednesday.
Currently capable of accommodating 3,000 individuals, the facility is constructed with the possibility of expanding its capacity to 5,000. It is comprised of dormitories enclosed by chain-link fences capped with barbed wire. Supporters have lauded the endeavor as innovative and cost-efficient, suggesting it as a viable strategy for the federal government to create sufficient detention space for Trump’s extensive deportation plans. Opponents, however, have criticized it as inhumane, resembling a makeshift prison camp.
Surrounded by challenging Everglades terrain and humorously nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” the center is about 45 miles west of downtown Miami. This remote location is strategic, as officials state its isolation serves as a deterrent against illegal immigration, reinforcing the perception of formidable barriers to escape besides deportation. The initiative is perceived as part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration and its allies, leveraging deterrence through perceived harsh conditions to encourage undocumented individuals to self-deport.
The expedited construction process was notable, with state authorities assembling the compound including tents, trailers, and temporary structures over just eight days. Estimated to have an annual operational cost of $450 million, these expenses will initially be borne by Florida, expecting reimbursement through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Inside, migrants will experience communal living with access to essential services like medical care, legal counsel, and spiritual support.
Envisioned to bolster the Trump administration’s goal of expanding its detention capacity significantly, this facility aims to help achieve the target of holding at least 100,000 immigrants at a time, doubling the existing capacity. The deterrent effect is emphasized by the rough locale and resources, humorously noted by Trump, emphasizing the natural and unorthodox “security features” of alligators.
As an additional measure to expedite processing, Florida is considering the unique step of deputizing state National Guard members as temporary immigration judges, making the system more efficient by providing due process directly within the facility followed by immediate deportation. Homeland Security Secretary Noem expressed hope that other states will adopt similar strategies.
Plans are on the drawing board for another temporary detention center at Camp Blanding, a National Guard training site near Jacksonville, with construction to commence after the July 4 holiday. Despite significant investment into these temporary facilities, critics point out existing unused capacities within county jails and detention centers, where thousands of beds remain vacant according to recent reports.
Leveraging emergency powers, Florida acquired the land for these facilities under a long-standing executive order from DeSantis, justified by the governor as a necessity in addressing what he defined as an immigration crisis. The fast-tracked development has faced backlash, with critics arguing it constitutes a misuse of authority.
The project has sparked significant protest, drawing demonstrators ranging from immigrant advocates to environmentalists, and Native American groups concerned about ancestral lands. The environmental impact worries these groups, leading to legal actions by organizations such as the Center for Biological Diversity, aimed at halting the facility’s development within the delicate ecosystems of the Big Cypress National Preserve.