FLORIDA EVERGLADES — The first images have surfaced from a newly constructed migrant detention center deep in the swamps of South Florida, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” The controversial facility, capable of holding up to 5,000 detainees, is surrounded by treacherous wetlands and dangerous wildlife including alligators, crocodiles, and invasive pythons.
The center, officially located at Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, was unveiled during a tour led by former President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Video footage shows rows of metal bunk beds enclosed within chain-link fencing, giving the center a stark, prison-like appearance.
“Biden wanted me in here, that son of a b—h,” Trump joked to reporters, referencing political opposition as he walked through the compound. “We’re surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland. The only real way out is deportation.”
Nicknamed both “Alligator Alcatraz” and “Gator Gitmo,” the site was completed in just eight days, according to Florida officials, and is expected to cost approximately $450 million annually to operate. Officials said migrants could begin arriving as early as Wednesday.
Maximum Security in the Middle of the Swamp
The facility features over 28,000 feet of barbed wire, 200 security cameras, and is staffed by 400 security personnelalong with 100 National Guard troops. It sits along U.S. Route 41, the lone highway connecting Miami to Naples, and is almost completely surrounded by swamp.
“There’s only one road leading in, and the only way out is a one-way flight,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, describing the center’s inaccessibility as a security advantage.
Officials from Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration said part of the costs would be reimbursed through FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program.
A Politicized Rollout with Swamp-Themed Branding
In a move that has sparked widespread reaction online, the Trump team has embraced the facility’s surroundings, posting tongue-in-cheek memes of alligators in ICE uniforms and launching a line of “Alligator Alcatraz” merchandise.
“Don’t run in a straight line — run like this,” Trump said during the tour, gesturing a zigzag pattern with his hands, joking that Homeland Security would train new detainees in gator evasion techniques.
Criticism Mounts Over Conditions and Environment
Despite its rapid deployment, the facility has drawn criticism from immigrant rights groups, environmental organizations, and online commentators. Some have compared the wire-fenced enclosures to a “concentration camp,” citing concerns about air circulation, overcrowding, and heat.
Florida officials responded by assuring the public that the entire site will be air-conditioned, in anticipation of Florida’s sweltering summer temperatures.
Meanwhile, environmental advocates warn the center endangers local ecosystems and may violate protections for species native to the Everglades. The state, however, argues that federal environmental statutes don’t apply since the project was state-funded.
More to Come Nationwide?
Speaking at the end of his tour, Trump hinted that the facility could serve as a model for future migrant detention across the U.S.
“I’d like to see them in many states. Really, many states,” he said. “At some point, they might even form a system.”
The site remains at the center of a growing political and humanitarian debate as the country approaches the 2026 election season.
