Florida has begun building a detention centre - dubbed the 'Alligator Alcatraz' - to temporarily hold migrants on an air strip in the Everglades. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the facility would be funded "in large part" by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's shelter and services programme, which was previously used to provide accommodation and other aid for undocumented migrants. The plan has been criticised by several lawmakers, including the mayor of Miami-Dade County, who argued it could be environmentally "devastating". The proposal comes as Trump tries to deliver on a campaign pledge to ramp up deportations of illegal migrants. "Under President Trump's leadership, we are working at turbo speed on cost-effective and innovative ways to deliver on the American people's mandate for mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens," Noem said in a statement. "We will expand facilities and bed space in just days, thanks to our partnership with Florida." The facility is to be built on the site of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, a public airport around 58km (36 miles) from Miami. It will cost about $450m (£332m) a year to run. In a video posted on X, Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier called the airport a "virtually abandoned facility". He said the detention centre could be built in 30 to 60 days and hold an estimated 1,000 people. He argued the location acted as a natural deterrent for escapees. Uthmeier said in the video: "[If] people, get out, there's not much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons. Nowhere to go, nowhere to hide." The mayor of Miami-Dade County, Daniela Levine Cava, a Democrat, criticised the plan, saying "the impacts to the Everglades ecosystem could be devastating". The Florida Everglades are a unique environmental region comprising marshes, prairies, forests, mangroves and estuaries. Uthmeier said the facility would not be located within Everglades National Park.
Florida building 'Alligator Alcatraz' migrant detention centre in Everglades
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Florida Begins Construction of Migrant Detention Center in Everglades"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Florida has initiated the construction of a new detention center, informally referred to as 'Alligator Alcatraz', intended to temporarily house migrants on an airstrip located in the Everglades. This facility, as stated by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, will be primarily financed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's shelter and services program, which has historically been utilized to provide housing and assistance to undocumented immigrants. The project has faced significant criticism from various lawmakers, including Miami-Dade County's mayor, who expressed concerns about the potential environmental consequences that could arise from such a facility. The proposal aligns with former President Trump's commitment to intensifying deportations of illegal migrants, with Noem asserting that the administration is rapidly working on innovative solutions to fulfill the public's demand for mass deportations of individuals deemed criminal aliens. The facility is strategically situated at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, approximately 58 kilometers from Miami, and is projected to cost around $450 million annually to operate.
Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier highlighted the airport's status as a 'virtually abandoned facility' and indicated that the detention center could be operational within 30 to 60 days, accommodating an estimated 1,000 individuals. He suggested that the location inherently serves as a deterrent against escape attempts, citing the presence of alligators and pythons in the surrounding area. Despite these assertions, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniela Levine Cava, a Democrat, criticized the initiative, warning that the construction could have devastating impacts on the Everglades ecosystem, which is known for its unique biodiversity that includes marshes, prairies, forests, mangroves, and estuaries. Uthmeier countered that the detention facility would not encroach upon the boundaries of the Everglades National Park, emphasizing the efforts to mitigate environmental concerns while addressing immigration enforcement needs.
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