On Tuesday, President Donald Trump visited a new migrant detention centre in Florida, controversially nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz.”
Trump made light of the facility’s location in the Everglades swamp, suggesting that escaping migrants would learn to evade alligators to survive.
Critics have condemned the site, calling it inhumane due to its swampy surroundings. However, Trump embraced the controversy, stating, “A lot of cops in the form of alligators—you don’t have to pay them so much.” He added that the challenging terrain would “keep people where they’re supposed to be.”
This “Alligator Alcatraz” facility is part of the Trump administration’s intensified crackdown on undocumented migrants since his return to power in January. Located on an abandoned airfield within the Everglades conservation area, the centre is projected to cost $450 million and house 1,000 individuals.
Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who welcomed Trump, expressed a desire to expedite the removal of “illegals.”
Trump also joked about the dangers of escaping, advising that those who flee should run in a zigzag pattern to increase their chances of survival against alligators. Later, he launched into a tirade against immigration, falsely linking migrants to “sadistic” criminal gangs.
The name “Alligator Alcatraz” references the infamous former San Francisco prison, which Trump had previously expressed interest in reopening. That plan, however, was deemed too costly and impractical. In its efforts to appear tough on migration, the Trump administration is also sending some undocumented migrants to the former “War on Terror” prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The new facility has drawn protests from immigration policy opponents and environmentalists concerned about its impact on the Everglades National Park, a significant alligator habitat. While alligator attacks on humans are rare in Florida, authorities have emphasised the potential risks.
Trump’s visit coincided with his push for a new tax and spending bill in Congress, which includes funding for his immigration enforcement initiatives and an increase in detention centre capacity. This deportation drive is part of a broader strategy of harsh public displays regarding migration, including recent raids in Los Angeles that sparked protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Sources
