MIAMI, Fla. – President Donald Trump is in Florida on Tuesday to go to the state’s giant new immigration detention heart within the Everglades, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”
The backstory:
Gov. Ron DeSantis used emergency powers to authorize the development of a brand new heart to detain unlawful immigrants on the Dade-Collier Coaching and Transition Airport, a 30-square-mile distant airfield.
The short development course of for the middle, which is anticipated to price about $450 million per yr, started a couple of week in the past. Tent buildings are being set as much as home as much as 5,000 immigrants at any given time by the tip of July.
Pictured: The positioning of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ on the deserted Dade-Collier Coaching and Transition Airport.
Final week, the governor commented on the brand new heart and its “Alligator Alcatraz” nickname.
“Clearly, from a safety perspective, if somebody escapes, you already know, there are a whole lot of alligators you are going to should take care of. Nobody’s going wherever when you do this. It is as secure and safe as may be,” DeSantis mentioned.
On Monday, White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump’s journey to Florida, set for Tuesday.
RELATED: ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ merchandise on the market by Florida Republicans
The opposite aspect:
The brief timeline from approval to development is, partly, what’s inflicting main backlash from environmental teams and the Miccosukee Indian Tribe, saying the plans did not undergo a full evaluate or public remark.
Two teams, Pals of the Everglades and the Middle for Organic Variety, filed a federal lawsuit late final week.
DeSantis countered the claims, saying the middle may have no adverse environmental results whereas touting elevated funding lately for Everglades restoration.
PREVIOUS: ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ facility sparks outcry from Indian tribe, environmentalists
A retired Federal Bureau of Prisons officer, nonetheless, says the ability might result in many different issues.
“I might suppose it will be virtually like, a nightmare to do,” Joe Rojas mentioned. “If you speak about staffing, we speak concerning the safety, the working circumstances, you already know, are they going to have air-con, the mould downside, and clearly harmful, if you’re coping with people who find themselves detained, whether or not convicted felons and even detainees, Relying on the working circumstances, they are going to get agitated. Simply human nature, individuals get agitated. And the primary individual they take a look at are these officers.”
Pictured: The positioning of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ on the deserted Dade-Collier Coaching and Transition Airport.
Dig deeper:
The governor additionally revealed final week {that a} second potential new ICE detention heart is within the works at Camp Blanding – Florida’s Nationwide Guard coaching headquarters situated southwest of Jacksonville.
RELATED: DeSantis reveals plans for second ICE detention heart in Florida
What they’re saying:
Trump arrived in Florida on Tuesday morning to take a tour of the brand new Everglades facility earlier than participating in a roundtable with DeSantis and different officers.
Pictured: President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis meet at “Alligator Alcatraz” within the Everglades on July 1, 2025.
“It is a crucial factor,” Trump mentioned moments after getting off the aircraft. “We’re setting data on the border.”
Trump and DeSantis additionally took intention on the 2020 Census, saying they assist a measure forcing the U.S. Census Bureau to make sure that solely U.S. residents are factored into counts for Congressional districts and the Electoral Faculty map.
“This nation is just not pretty apportioned,” DeSantis mentioned. “I’ve acquired so many extra tens of millions of individuals in Florida which have illustration due to that flawed census.”
Pictured: President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and different officers tour the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention facility within the Florida Everglades on July 1, 2025.
The Supply: This story was written with data from FOX Information Digital and former FOX 13 Information reviews.
