Key Facts
• Located 80 km west of Miami in Everglades National Park.
• Nicknamed ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ designed for up to 5,000 detainees.
• Temporary housing built on an airfield runway within days.
• Daily cost per bed: $245; annual operation cost: $450 million.
• Florida Governor DeSantis approved the facility at federal request.
• Facility surrounded by alligators to deter escape attempts.
• Criticized as ‘inhumane’ by activists and local communities.
• Environmentalists and indigenous groups oppose due to ecological and cultural concerns.
• Designed as a self-sufficient site with mobile utilities.
• Lawsuits filed to halt construction, citing environmental risks.
Summary
The newly established immigration detention facility in Florida, dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ is located in the Everglades National Park, 80 km west of Miami. Built on a former airfield runway, it can house up to 5,000 detainees awaiting deportation. The facility, costing $450 million annually, is designed to be self-sufficient with mobile utilities and temporary housing. Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized its necessity to alleviate pressure on state law enforcement and prisons. However, the project has faced backlash from immigrant rights groups, environmentalists, and indigenous communities, who cite concerns over human rights, ecological impact, and cultural heritage. Lawsuits have been filed to stop the construction, while critics label the facility as ‘inhumane.’ The surrounding alligator-infested wetlands are intended to prevent escape attempts, a controversial feature that has drawn further criticism.
