TRUMP VISITS “ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ” IN THE HEART OF THE EVERGLADES

On Tuesday, July 1, President Trump traveled to the Everglades to visit the site of the new mega-detention center for immigrants, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” to mark its official opening.
Located 37 miles (60 km) west of Miami on a former airstrip, the Dade-Collier training airport, the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) prison will be able to hold up to 5,000 detainees, mainly illegal immigrants.
Surrounded by swamps that are home to hostile wildlife (alligators, crocodiles, mosquitoes, pythons), the site is so isolated that there is only one road leading to it. As Florida Governor Ron DeSantis points out: « What’s going to happen is that people are going to be brought there. Once they’re there, they won’t be able to leave unless they want to, because good luck getting back to civilization! So security is incredible. » The site has already been approved by the Department of Homeland Security.
Some environmental groups have opposed the establishment of such a project in the heart of the fragile Everglades ecosystem. Native American leaders (Miccosukees and Seminoles) claim that the land is sacred. Protests are expected on the day the center opens.
Despite everything, the Florida government is pushing ahead with the project. Most of the funding will come from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), which is usually used to compensate victims of hurricanes and natural disasters. The annual operating costs of the detention center are estimated at $450 million. Donald Trump would like the “Big Beautiful Bill” to be passed before July 4, which would significantly increase the ICE budget.
The current number of migrants detained in the United States has risen from 39,000 in January 2025 to 56,000 (+44%) on June 15, some of whom are being held in Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), and the government needs more space to accommodate them.