Florida begins building migrant detention site in Everglades dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz'

Florida has started constructing a new migrant detention centre deep in the Everglades, a remote wetland known for its treacherous wildlife, as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to expand detention capacity.

Construction began on Tuesday for a temporary migrant detention facility in Florida’s Everglades, unofficially dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz" due to its isolated and hazardous location. The project is part of a broader push by President Donald Trump’s administration to increase detention and deportation of migrants amid rising numbers in federal custody.

Footage aired by a local NBC affiliate showed initial construction activity, including the setup of large tents and staff trailers. According to Florida officials, the facility will rely on the natural defences of the Everglades—an area populated by alligators, crocodiles, and pythons—for perimeter security, reducing the need for heavy infrastructure.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the facility, which could cost $450 million annually, is projected to hold up to 5,000 people once fully operational. An initial capacity of 1,000 people could be reached within 30 to 60 days, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said in a recent video statement.

The number of migrants in federal immigration detention has surged from 39,000 to 56,000 since Trump returned to office. In response, DHS has allocated emergency funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s shelter and services programme—normally reserved for natural disasters—to finance much of the Everglades project.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) typically pays $165 per detainee per day, but the Everglades facility will cost around $247 per person per day if it reaches its full capacity.

The use of disaster relief funds for detention purposes has drawn criticism in the past, but DHS argues that the measure is necessary due to what it describes as a national-level immigration emergency.

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