President Donald Trump will visit the Florida Everglades on Tuesday to mark the opening of a new migrant detention center, nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz," located 37 miles from Miami in a remote, wildlife-rich wetland.
The facility, built at the Dade Collier Training and Transition Airport, is designed to hold up to 5,000 people at an estimated annual cost of $450 million.
Its isolated location, surrounded by alligators, crocodiles, and pythons, has been highlighted by the White House as a symbol of its aggressive immigration enforcement strategy.
The administration aims to use the site to support a mass deportation campaign targeting migrants it claims were improperly allowed to remain in the U.S. under prior policies.
The project, championed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and state Attorney General James Uthmeier, has drawn significant attention.
Florida Republicans argue the harsh conditions of the facility serve as a deterrent to undocumented immigration, with DeSantis noting it aligns with Trump’s border security priorities.
However, the construction, completed in just seven days using emergency powers, has faced backlash.
Local leaders, including Miccosukee and Seminole tribes, and environmental groups like Friends of the Everglades have criticized the facility’s impact on the sensitive ecosystem, with 96% of the site classified as wetlands.
A federal lawsuit filed Friday by environmentalists cites threats to endangered species, such as the Florida panther, and the broader Everglades restoration efforts.
The facility has sparked protests from Democrats and immigration advocates, who call the conditions inhumane, particularly given the region’s extreme heat and hurricane risks.
Critics, including Florida state Sen. Shevrin Jones, have decried the lack of clear plans for humane treatment.
Meanwhile, the White House and Florida Republicans, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, emphasize the facility’s role in expanding detention capacity, with federal funding, including from FEMA, expected to support operations.
As lawmakers debate a broader spending bill to boost deportation efforts, the facility’s opening underscores the divisive nature of Trump’s immigration agenda, which has resonated with some voters but faces legal and humanitarian challenges.