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Center For Detention Nicknamed “Alcatraz of Alligators” Is Raised in Florida Swamp and Causes Polemic Due to Risks and Extreme Isolation
The president of the United States, Donald Trump, participated on Tuesday in the inauguration of an immigrant detention center located in the middle of a Florida swamp. The site, nicknamed “Alcatraz of Alligators,” was built in an isolated area of the Everglades, known for the large presence of reptiles.
The initiative has drawn criticism from human rights advocates and environmentalists, who consider the project inhumane and inappropriate.
Installation Surrounded by Wild Animals
The detention center was erected on an abandoned airstrip, amid mangroves and swamps of Everglades National Park.
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The region is known for its estimated population of about 200,000 alligators. The reptiles, which can reach 15 feet, were even mentioned by Trump during a conversation with reporters.
“I think that’s the concept“, said the president when asked if the goal was for immigrants who escaped to be caught by alligators or snakes. “Don’t run in a straight line. Run like this. Your chances increase by about 1%“.
The White House has adopted the nickname “Alcatraz of Alligators,” comparing the installation to the prison located on an island in San Francisco Bay.
According to press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the center is isolated, dangerous, and difficult to escape. She stated that the presence of predators is part of the natural security of the site.
“When you have murderers, rapists, and heinous criminals surrounded by alligators, it prevents them from trying to escape“, she said.
Repression Also Affects Immigrants Without Accusations
Although the Trump administration’s discourse highlights violent criminals, the repression also affects migrants without any accusations.
The facility will have a capacity of 5,000 beds and is part of a plan to expand the detention structure in the country.
The goal is to support mass deportations and mobilize local authorities to arrest undocumented immigrants.
Trump has already sent migrants to Guantanamo Bay and to a mega-prison in El Salvador. Now, the Everglades center enters this broader effort.
The construction is budgeted at US$ 450 million per year, a value that could receive partial reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to Tricia McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security.
Allies See Economy and Natural Security
For James Uthmeier, Florida’s Secretary of State and Trump ally, the swamp represents an advantage.
He argues that the state won’t need to invest much in security since the terrain is naturally hostile. Alligators and pythons would serve as a barrier against escapes.
The center will consist of large tents and other temporary structures. The Trump administration is pressuring Congress for more funds, arguing that the number of available beds is crucial to increasing the number of deportations.
Tom Homan, known as the “Border Czar,” stated that the detention capacity will be essential for the government’s goals this year.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem declared that the priority is to execute mass deportations of “criminal illegal immigrants.”
Criticism of Lack of Structure and Health Risks
Immigrant advocacy organizations point out serious flaws in the project. Mark Fleming of the National Immigrant Justice Center claims that the installation represents a form of independent detention without federal oversight.
He criticizes the decision to keep thousands of people in tents, without guarantees of adequate medical care, in the midst of Florida’s summer.
“The cold disregard for the health and safety of the people they intend to imprison there“, he said.
Currently, immigrants are held in private prisons and local jails, paid for by the federal government. The new facility goes further: it will be exclusively for immigrants detained by local authorities on behalf of the federal government. It could also receive migrants from other states.
Fund From Biden Era Used in New Policy
The funding for the facility may use resources created during the Biden administration. The funds were allocated to states and organizations that welcome immigrants while awaiting the progress of legal proceedings.
However, the Trump administration criticized this use and has already pulled US$ 80 million from these subsidies, which led New York City to sue the federal government.
“I am proud to support President Trump and Secretary Noem“, Uthmeier declared. “The ‘Alcatraz of Alligators’ and other facilities in Florida will do exactly that“.
The facility is set to begin operations in the coming days. The White House has not yet provided an exact date for the start of immigrant detention at the new center. The official inauguration marks another step in the immigration policy adopted by Trump since his return to power.
With information from O Globo.
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