By Emily Herr

The Scoop Digital Newspaper: July 2025

In a move that has sparked widespread controversy, a new immigration detention facility, ominously nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” has been established in the remote reaches of the Florida Everglades. The site, an unused airstrip within the Big Cypress National Preserve, has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups, human rights advocates, and Native American tribal leaders, while being championed by Florida officials and the Trump administration as a deterrent against illegal immigration.

The moniker “Alligator Alcatraz” directly refers to the facility’s location: a vast swampland teeming with alligators, pythons, and other wildlife. Proponents of the center, including Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, have openly stated that the natural surroundings serve as a significant barrier, reducing the need for extensive perimeter security. This concept has been embraced by the Trump administration, with President Donald Trump himself joking about the need to teach detainees how to evade alligators if they attempt to escape.

However, critics view this as a cruel and inhumane approach. Environmental organizations, such as Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, have filed lawsuits to halt construction, arguing that the facility poses a significant threat to the ecologically sensitive Everglades ecosystem. This region is home to endangered species like the Florida panther and provides 40% of South Florida’s drinking water. They contend that the rapid construction, under emergency powers invoked by Governor Ron DeSantis, has bypassed crucial environmental reviews and public comment periods.

Native American tribal leaders, including the Miccosukee and Seminole tribes, have also vehemently opposed the project, asserting that the land is sacred ancestral homeland. They emphasize that the area is not an uninhabited wasteland but a vital cultural and traditional refuge.

The facility, which could eventually house up to 5,000 detainees in heavy-duty tents and trailers, is primarily being spearheaded by Florida state officials, with much of the cost expected to be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The stated purpose is to process and deport migrants as part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted the isolation of the site, stating, “There’s only one road leading in, and the only way out is a one-way flight.”

The establishment of “Alligator Alcatraz” has become a potent symbol in the ongoing national debate over immigration policy, highlighting the stark divisions between those advocating for stricter border enforcement and those prioritizing human rights and environmental protection. Protests have been ongoing at the site, with activists and tribal members lining highways and urging a halt to the project, emphasizing that the Everglades should be protected, not transformed into a detention camp.

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