President Trump tours Florida Everglades ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ migrant detention center, endorsing it as a model in swampland. Critics cite environmental, cultural concerns amid heated protests.

President Donald Trump has addressed the opening of a new immigration detention center in Florida's Everglades, an area known for its alligator-populated swamps, describing it as a potential model for similar facilities. This new center, which Trump visited on Tuesday, has quickly become emblematic of his administration's stricter immigration policies, with migrants anticipated to begin arriving shortly.

Nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz," the detention center is constructed on a secluded airstrip using tents and trailers typically reserved for disaster responses. While President Trump remarked humorously about teaching migrants how to evade alligators, his comments are not supported by the University of Florida, which advises against such strategies.

“Alligator Alcatraz”: Trump’s Swamp-Based Detention Model 

As Trump visited, protesters assembled near the facility, located approximately 50 miles west of Miami. Initially projected to accommodate up to 5,000 detainees, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who accompanied Trump, stated the facility would soon host 3,000 individuals. Critics have raised concerns about environmental impacts and cultural insensitivity, as some Native American leaders oppose the project for its location on sacred land.

Supporters of Trump were also present, with one individual sporting a hat asserting, "Trump was right about everything." The Trump administration highlights the center's isolation and dangerous surroundings as deterrents. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that it is difficult to escape given its location and hazardous wildlife.

Trump's legacy of tough immigration policies has been a prominent feature of his political strategy, which included controversial ideas such as filling a border moat with alligators, although he later dismissed this as an exaggeration. Discussions have arisen regarding reopening the former Alcatraz prison and relocating detainees to Guantánamo Bay or a megaprison in El Salvador, but these plans face logistical challenges.

Environmental and Cultural Backlash Behind the Everglades Facility 

The Everglades facility was developed rapidly, as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem explained. Florida was approached after some contractors were deemed too costly, and state officials agreed to expedite the project. Former Representative David Jolly criticized the project as a "callous political stunt."

The facility will hold U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees typically awaiting deportation. Those charged with violent crimes are processed differently within the criminal justice system. Though funded largely by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the facility's oversight falls under Florida's purview.

Political Theater and Logistics: From Protests to Policy Implications 

The proposal was initially presented by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, featuring stylized promotional content, while the Department of Homeland Security shared imagery portraying the center's features. The Florida Republican Party is utilizing the facility as a marketing tool, as Governor DeSantis and other political figures continue to emphasize its security attributes.