A new immigration detention center has begun operating in Florida, unofficially nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz.” Located in the heart of the Everglades swamps, the center was built in just eight days. It’s surrounded by 8.5 kilometers (about 5.3 miles) of barbed wire, equipped with hundreds of surveillance cameras, and guarded by 400 personnel.
Designed to hold 3,000 people — with plans to expand capacity to 5,000 — the facility houses migrants detained by police under the controversial 287(g) program. This program allows local law enforcement to transfer individuals to ICE custody even without a court order.
The center has sparked a wave of protests. Human rights advocates and representatives of Indigenous communities see it as a serious threat to detainees’ health and a desecration of sacred land. During a visit by Trump, the tents on-site were already flooded after heavy rain.
Federal authorities publicly distanced themselves from the project, stating it was funded entirely by Florida’s budget.
Both the name and the location of the facility seem deliberately chosen to intimidate: officials want potential migrants to know that their journey to the U.S. could end in a center isolated from the world and symbolically “guarded” by alligators.
Behar International Counsel, APC provides a full-range of immigration legal assistance to our clients. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.
