First Immigrants Arrive At ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detention Center

The first group of detainees has arrived at Florida’s newly constructed immigration detention facility deep in the Everglades, known colloquially as “Alligator Alcatraz,” a spokesperson for Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed this week. The facility, which was built in just over a week under Governor Ron DeSantis’s emergency authority, is already operational and expected to play a central role in President Donald Trump’s renewed push to enforce federal immigration law.

Located at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, the center currently has capacity for around 3,000 detainees and is designed to expand to 5,000 beds by mid-July. The site is surrounded by more than 28,000 feet of barbed wire, monitored by over 200 security cameras, and staffed by 400 security personnel.

“People are there,” Uthmeier’s press secretary, Jae Williams, told the Associated Press. While specifics on the number of arrivals and their countries of origin were not disclosed, officials said the individuals were arrested under the federal 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement to identify and detain illegal immigrants in coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Uthmeier, credited as the architect of the center, emphasized its purpose on social media: “Next stop: back to where they came from.”

Florida officials have described the facility’s remote location and fortified conditions as a deliberate deterrent strategy. Nicknamed after the notorious island prison of Alcatraz, the “Alligator Alcatraz” moniker is being embraced by state officials and Republican political groups, even appearing on merchandise now sold to fundraise for the Florida GOP.

The symbolism, paired with its real-world isolation in an alligator-filled swamp, is intended to send a strong message to those considering crossing the border or remaining in the country illegally–especially if they have criminal records. Supporters argue that such visibility and firm enforcement will serve as a powerful deterrent and may even encourage self-deportation, a policy goal the Trump administration has highlighted as a lower cost and more humane method of removal.

In a court filing responding to a lawsuit by environmental groups, DHS stated that it has not authorized or funded the facility and clarified that Florida is operating it independently under state authority.

“DHS has not implemented, authorized, directed, or funded Florida’s temporary detention center,” the filing read, though the department did not oppose the facility’s operation.

The distinction is legally significant as federal funding could trigger additional oversight or environmental compliance requirements, which opponents have cited in legal challenges.

Environmental groups warn the site threatens fragile ecosystems in the Everglades and note the area is prone to flooding, citing rainfall earlier this week that caused water to leak into tents. State officials say they’ve addressed the flooding risk and the site can withstand a Category 2 hurricane.

With its rapid construction, high visibility, and emphasis on criminal deportation operations, “Alligator Alcatraz” is likely to serve as a model for similar state-run detention centers nationwide.

READ NEXT: Trump Admin Greenlights ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ For ICE Detainees