Camilla Jessen
Critics say it’s a human rights disaster in disguise.
With swamp water as its moat and alligators as its rumored guards, Florida’s newest migrant detention center has quickly become one of the most controversial facilities in the country.
On July 1, President Donald Trump toured the site, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” delivering a speech that blended sarcasm with unapologetic approval.
“Snakes are fast, but alligators — we’re going to teach them how to run away from an alligator,” Trump quipped to Newsner reporters, pantomiming a zigzag escape route. “Don’t run in a straight line. Run like this.”
The remark was aimed at future detainees, hinting at the inescapability of the camp’s dangerous surroundings.
A Harsh Joke, a Real Plan
The detention center is located at the remote Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Everglades, It is therefore surrounded by thick swamps filled with alligators, snakes, and crocodiles.
The center is designed to house up to 3,000 migrants, with capacity expected to grow to 5,000.
Trump likened the site to the infamous Alcatraz prison, saying, “It might be as good as the real Alcatraz.” Notably, Trump has previously expressed interest in reopening the original facility off the coast of San Francisco.
Rising Outrage and Indigenous Opposition
While Trump and allies like right-wing media personality Benny Johnson celebrated the camp—with Johnson calling it a “Jurassic Park” and boasting that “the alligators get you”—the backlash has been swift.
Protesters braved rain outside the site to oppose what many view as an inhumane approach to immigration.
The facility has also drawn sharp criticism from Native American leaders, who say it’s been built on sacred land.
Miccosukee Chairman Talbert Cypress spoke out against the state’s framing of the region as a “wasteland,” saying, “The Big Cypress is the Tribe’s traditional homelands… the landscape has protected the Miccosukee and Seminole people for generations.”
Environmentalists and locals also weighed in, with resident Garrett Stuart telling the AP that using swamp creatures as a security measure is nonsense. “Those animals are afraid of humans,” he said.
Costly and Controversial
The facility, reportedly costing around $450 million per year to operate, has become a flashpoint in debates about immigration policy and human rights.
Critics say it looks more like a prison than a temporary shelter, especially given its isolation and the dangerous natural environment surrounding it.
Still, Trump praised Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for fast-tracking construction, putting aside past political jabs to commend the governor’s role.
“Ron worked beautifully,” Trump said, noting the camp was up and running in just eight days.
One-Liners, Threats, and Swipes at Biden
As expected, Trump couldn’t resist throwing in a jab at President Joe Biden.
Calling him a “son of a b***h,” Trump accused his political rival of wanting him detained in the camp, adding fuel to the fiery tone of the event.
