Alligator Alcatraz: Migrant Tent Camps & Wildlife Plan
- Florida is moving forward with plans to construct a new migrant detention center,dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," near Miami.The facility would be located on the 10,500-foot runway at the Dade-Collier...
- Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the plan, which follows a directive from Donald Trump to reopen a similar facility near San Francisco.
- The proposed "Alligator Alcatraz" could house up to 5,000 detainees.
Florida unveils plans to build “Alligator Alcatraz,” a new migrant detention center in the Everglades, potentially housing up to 5,000 detainees in tent camps. Attorney General James uthmeier states the Everglades’ wildlife could replace traditional security and the project is slated to be completed near Miami. The proposed center has ignited controversy, drawing criticism from environmental groups while also facing local opposition amid scrutiny of its projected $450 million annual operating cost as a secondary_keyword. Local officials and Miami-Dade County mayor are voicing concerns about the long-term community impacts. News Directory 3 provides you with the latest information. Discover what’s next …
Florida Plans “Alligator Alcatraz” Migrant Detention Center
Updated June 24,2025
Florida is moving forward with plans to construct a new migrant detention center,dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” near Miami.The facility would be located on the 10,500-foot runway at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, approximately 36 miles from Miami.
Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the plan, which follows a directive from Donald Trump to reopen a similar facility near San Francisco. Uthmeier suggested the Everglades’ wildlife would reduce the need for extensive security measures at the migrant detention center.
The proposed “Alligator Alcatraz” could house up to 5,000 detainees. Funding for the project is expected to come from the federal government, with work already underway. The plan involves housing detainees in tents and buildings, overseen by National Guard troops.
Local officials estimate the annual operating cost at $450 million, according to The New York Times.The temporary nature of the facility is intended to ease pressure on existing immigration centers.
Daniella Levine Cava, the mayor of Miami-Dade County, expressed concerns about the long-term impact on the community and is seeking more time to review the plans for the migrant detention center.
The proposal has sparked outrage from environmental groups and local residents. Eve samples, director of the Friends of the Everglades, told the Fort Myers News-Press that the site is a “sacred, multi-generational home to Florida’s native people, and is no home for a damaging, unnecessary prison.”
Mad Bear Osceola, a local resident who spent his childhood near the site, said, “Any type of prison or where you’re caging people up, it’s something that you don’t do (in our world). It’s really a new concept for us.We are not in favor of putting people in chains like animals.”
Uthmeier told commentator Benny Johnson, “We don’t need to build a lot of brick and mortar. It will be temporary, and thankfully, Mother Nature does a lot on the perimeter.” He also warned that anyone attempting to escape would face the dangers of pythons and alligators.
What’s next
Local officials are seeking more time to scrutinize the plans, while environmental groups continue to protest the construction of the migrant detention center in the Everglades. The facility could be operational by July, though the exact timeline remains uncertain.