Trump Visits Controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” Migrant Detention Center — And Doesn’t Hold Back
Florida’s new migrant detention facility, ominously nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” has ignited a firestorm of national debate — especially after President Donald Trump made a headline-grabbing visit this week.
A Prison in the Heart of the Everglades
Nestled deep within the treacherous Everglades, the camp is surrounded by venomous snakes, lurking alligators, and stealthy crocodiles. This natural fortress makes escape nearly impossible, adding a chilling layer of danger for detainees.
Trump’s Bold Defense—and a Stark Warning
On July 1, Trump didn’t shy away from the harsh realities. With a smirk, he declared, “Snakes are fast but alligators—we’re going to teach them how to run away from an alligator,” as he demonstrated a zigzag running motion. His words sent a clear and chilling message to migrants considering escape.
Admitting the camp was “a little controversial,” Trump brushed off the backlash, even going so far as to liken the center to the notorious Alcatraz prison — a facility he has suggested reopening.
Joined by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, Trump toured the facility, with all three staunchly defending the camp. Meanwhile, critics across the country are drawing comparisons to Nazi internment camps, escalating public outrage.
Local and Indigenous Outcry Erupts Over “Alligator Alcatraz”
Protests quickly flared outside the remote Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, where the detention camp is located. Local residents slammed the facility as downright inhumane.
Indigenous leaders spoke with even greater conviction. The center sits on sacred ancestral lands long held by Native American tribes who have deep, centuries-old ties to the region.
Miccosukee Chairman Talbert Cypress emphasized, “Big Cypress is the Tribe’s traditional homelands. This landscape has sheltered the Miccosukee and Seminole people for generations.”
Wildlife Guards? Not Quite
Nearby resident Garrett Stuart dismissed the idea that alligators and pythons make effective “guards.” “Those animals are scared of humans,” he told the Associated Press, questioning the facility’s reliance on nature’s predators as security.
Meanwhile, right-wing commentator Benny Johnson threw his support behind Trump, dubbing the site “Jurassic Park” and joking, “Once you’re inside, you don’t come out… if you do, the alligators get you.” Johnson sported “official Alligator Alcatraz merch,” funded by Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier — a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the center as part of Trump’s aggressive deportation agenda.
Politics, Praise, and Provocations
Trump lavished praise on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for fast-tracking the center’s construction in a mere eight days. “Ron worked beautifully with Homeland Security,” Trump said with approval.
But he also took a sharp shot at former President Joe Biden, calling him a “son of a b***h” and accusing him of wanting Trump himself locked inside the facility.
Scale, Costs, and Controversy
“Alligator Alcatraz” is set to initially house 3,000 migrants, with plans to expand to 5,000. The sprawling, state-run complex repurposes a former airfield and relies on the surrounding deadly swamps as a natural barrier.
With a staggering price tag of approximately $450 million per year, the detention center has ignited fierce debates around U.S. immigration policy, human rights, and the ethics of using nature’s fiercest creatures as part of a detention strategy.