The first group of immigrants was scheduled to arrive Wednesday night, July 2, 2025, at a new detention facility deep in the Florida Everglades. Known officially as the Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility but quickly dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by state officials, the remote site is intended to deter illegal immigration. Key aspects include its rapid construction, high security, controversial location in an environmentally sensitive area, and use in political messaging.
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The detainees were being brought to the facility on buses, according to officials. It was not immediately clear the precise timing of their arrival or their origin.
Police officers inspect vehicles arriving at the new migrant detention facility entrance in the Florida Everglades, dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz'.
Facility Location and Capacity
Located at an airport previously used for training purposes, the facility is situated over 10 miles (16 kilometers) within the Everglades. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis stated it was built in just eight days. When fully operational, it is expected to have a capacity for approximately 3,000 detainees.
Security Measures
Security at the site includes more than 200 security cameras, over 28,000 feet (8,500 meters) of barbed wire, and a staff of 400 security personnel.
The Name ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
Florida Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the scheduled arrivals on social media, stating, “Alligator Alcatraz will be checking in hundreds of criminal illegal aliens tonight. Next stop: back to where they came from.”
State and federal officials say the facility’s location in the rugged and remote Everglades, combined with naming it after the notorious federal prison of Alcatraz, an island fortress known for its brutal conditions, is meant as a strong deterrent message. This strategy is part of an effort by the Trump administration and its allies to rely on tactics intended to persuade people in the country illegally to leave voluntarily.
Officials have promoted the plans on social media and conservative news outlets, sharing images depicting a compound with barbed wire and alligators wearing “ICE” (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) hats. The Republican Party of Florida has also reportedly used the detention center for fundraising, selling merchandise featuring the facility’s name.
Environmental and Humanitarian Concerns
Environmental groups and Native American tribes have protested against the center, citing concerns about its impact on the fragile Everglades ecosystem. They also contend that the conditions could be cruel for detainees due to extreme heat and mosquitoes. Additionally, the facility is built on land that some tribes consider sacred.
Conditions and Challenges
The location is also known to be prone to frequent heavy rains. During a visit by President Donald Trump to mark the opening on Tuesday, some flooding reportedly occurred in the tents. State officials have stated that the complex is designed to withstand a Category 2 hurricane (winds between 96 and 110 mph / 154-177 kph) and that contractors worked overnight to address the areas affected by flooding.
The opening of the “Alligator Alcatraz” facility highlights a key approach in current immigration policy debates, combining rapid construction with a highly visible, deterrence-focused strategy, set against a backdrop of environmental and humanitarian concerns.
