President Donald Trump has introduced a new detention facility deep in the Florida Everglades designed to detain thousands of illegal immigrants—and signaled that American-born criminals may soon be sent there as well.
The site, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” because of its remote swamp location surrounded by dangerous wildlife, was built in just seven days and represents a key component of the administration’s mass deportation plans.
During a tour of the $450 million-per-year facility located approximately 37 miles from Miami, Trump described it as a place for “some of the most menacing migrants, the most vicious people on the planet.”
He warned that “a lot of bad people” who have been in the country a long time, including some born in the U.S., should be deported.
“I think we ought to get them the hell out of here too, if you want to know the truth. So maybe that’ll be the next job,” he said.
The detention center features rows of tents and trailers enclosed behind chain-linked fencing, with air-conditioned areas inside these temporary structures, the Daily Mail reports.
The camp sits on land seized from Miami-Dade County by Florida state officials despite objections from local leaders.
Adjacent to the site is an 11,000-foot airstrip, which Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said would facilitate rapid flights to third countries for deportation purposes.
Trump praised the facility’s location and natural defenses, comparing it to the infamous Alcatraz prison.
“The incredible thing is picking the site because the site was one of the most natural sites,” he said. “It might be as good as the real Alcatraz.”
“Well, that’s a spooky one too. That’s a tough site.”
The camp is surrounded by miles of swamp inhabited by alligators and snakes, adding to its isolation and security.
The president expressed his desire to expand this model nationwide.
“Florida’s going to be getting a second one—and probably a couple more,” Trump said.
He also suggested the system might evolve to hold detainees for longer periods, stating, “At some point they might morph into a system where you’re going to keep it for a long time.”
Despite criticism from Democrats and environmentalists, Trump remained unfazed.
He said, “I couldn’t care less” about the controversy surrounding the facility.
Democrats have labeled it a “makeshift prison camp,” while environmentalists raised concerns about the impact on the local ecosystem.
Native American groups have protested because the camp was built on land considered sacred, according to the Daily Mail.
Trump also acknowledged the harsh environment surrounding the detention center.
“It is not a place I want to go hiking any time soon,” he said.
This facility marks a significant escalation in immigration enforcement infrastructure and signals the administration’s tough stance on border security.
It follows previous proposals by Trump to deport convicted criminals from the U.S.
In April, he suggested sending American offenders to a notorious prison in El Salvador, where some deported migrants are currently held.
Built rapidly with tents and trailers instead of permanent buildings, the camp is designed to hold up to 3,000 illegal immigrants.
State officials and Republican leaders have championed the facility as a necessary tool for immigration control, while local opposition remains strong.
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