Florida Governor Ron DeSantis revealed Friday that a massive new detention facility, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” will be operational as early as Tuesday.
Nestled deep in the swamps of the Everglades, the controversial center is being built on the grounds of a mostly defunct airport in Miami-Dade County.
In a Friday appearance on Fox News, DeSantis laid out his plans for the facility, which he said will have the capacity to process more than 3,000 undocumented migrants at a time.
“When you want to have deportation of illegal aliens, there is a process that DHS has to go through to vet, to process and to stage them for removal,” DeSantis told host Steve Doocy.
“This is going to be able to have more than 3,000 illegals can be processed through here.”
Pointing to the facility’s strategic location, DeSantis highlighted the massive runway left over from the airport’s original construction.
Florida is stepping up to help increase deportations and fulfill President Trump's mandate to enforce immigration law.
Alligator Alcatraz is a secure facility in Florida that will stage criminal illegal aliens for efficient mass deportation. I gave @SteveDoocy a tour this… pic.twitter.com/jS6xK1u7Pm— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) June 27, 2025
“We’ve got a massive runway behind us, where any federal assets they want to fly these people back to their own country, they can do it, one-stop shop,” he said.
The idea for the detention center reportedly originated from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who showcased the site in an online video earlier this month.
Referring to its remote location, Uthmeier said, “You don’t need to invest that much in the perimeter. People get out, there’s not much waiting for them, other than alligators and pythons. Nowhere to go, nowhere to hide.”
DeSantis explained the speed of construction, crediting Florida’s Division of Emergency Management.
“This is not our first rodeo. Detaining illegal aliens is a little bit different, but logistically, we know how to do that,” he said.
'ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ': Florida eyes state's biggest ICE center in the Everglades 🐊
“If somebody were to get out, there's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Only the alligators and pythons are waiting. That's why I like to call it ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’” – Florida Attorney General… pic.twitter.com/UtNNLFoEfb
— Steve Gruber (@stevegrubershow) June 18, 2025
He also described the location as a natural deterrent for escape attempts.
“If a criminal alien escapes, you have nowhere to go. What are you going to do? Trudge through the swamp and dodge alligators 50 or 60 miles to civilization? Not going to happen,” he said.
The governor pointed out that the facility is intended to streamline the deportation process, reducing the burden on local jails and law enforcement.
“This takes this deportation mission out of the hair of our local and state law enforcement,” DeSantis added.
“This has no impact on Florida residents. All you need is a bus to move them 2000 feet that way, they get on a plane and they are gone.”
The Biden-era FEMA Shelter and Services Program, originally used to provide temporary housing for asylum seekers, will fund the project.
Construction costs are expected to reach roughly $450 million annually.
However, environmental organizations quickly mobilized in opposition. On Friday, a coalition of advocacy groups filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the construction.
Elise Bennett, Florida and Caribbean Director at the Center for Biological Diversity, denounced the plan in a statement.
“This massive detention center will blight one of the most iconic ecosystems in the world,” she said.
“This reckless attack on the Everglades — the lifeblood of Florida — risks polluting sensitive waters and turning more endangered Florida panthers into roadkill.”
The lawsuit alleges the Trump administration violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to conduct environmental reviews before approving construction.
The suit also claims a lack of compliance with other federal laws, including the Endangered Species Act.
“The decision to construct a mass migrant detention and deportation center at the TNT Site was made without conducting any environmental reviews as required under NEPA, without public notice or comment, and without compliance with other federal statutes such as the Endangered Species Act, or state or local land-use laws,” the filing reads.
The governor’s office rejected the criticism, defending both the need and location of the facility.
“This facility is a necessary staging operation for mass deportations located at a pre-existing airport that will have no impact on the surrounding environment. We look forward to litigating this case,” read a statement from the Executive Office of the Governor.
