Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has proposed a new immigration detention center deep in the Everglades, describing the site’s alligator-infested swamp as a built-in security feature. Dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” the 39-square-mile site is part of an offer made to the Trump administration as ICE detention facilities struggle to meet rising demand.
The location is a decommissioned airport surrounded by wetlands and dense vegetation. According to Uthmeier, it could house up to 1,000 detainees and be operational within 60 days. He emphasized the natural deterrents of the area, including alligators and pythons, as a cost-saving measure.
“You don’t need to invest that much in the perimeter,” Uthmeier said in a promotional video. “Alligator Alcatraz, we’re ready to go.”
Online reaction has been skeptical. On Reddit, one user wrote that the government refuses to fund hurricane preparedness but has no problem building prisons in swamps. Another sarcastically called the facility “Alligator Auschwitz,” while others mocked the priorities on display. One commenter compared the decision to letting “the lunatics run the asylum,” and another said, “Evil AND racist. Only the best for daddy Trump.”
ICE is currently detaining around 53,000 migrants, which is well over the number funded by Congress. The agency has already exceeded its budget by $1 billion this fiscal year. Florida officials argue the Everglades facility would reduce construction costs while expanding capacity quickly. The site also includes a 10,500-foot runway and existing infrastructure, which Uthmeier described as ideal for a rapid deployment.
Despite the logistical pitch, many critics see the proposal as an unnecessary display. One Redditor compared it to something out of a theme park, while another referred to it as a plan designed by people with no empathy. Comments also raised concerns about the normalization of hostile environments for detention, particularly when migrants are already facing dangerous conditions in custody elsewhere.
There is no official word yet on whether the federal government will accept Florida’s offer. Until then, the alligators remain a central part of the sales pitch, waiting in the swamps while the debate continues.
