The Trump administration is making $608 million available to states willing to expand their migrant detention efforts, offering new federal funding through a FEMA program designed to replicate Florida’s controversial detention center in the Everglades.
The funds are part of FEMA’s new Detention Support Grant Program (DEP) and are intended to help states construct or expand temporary migrant detention sites modeled after the remote Florida facility nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz.”
“Secretary [Kristi] Noem has been very clear that Alligator Alcatraz can be a blueprint for other states,” a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Friday.
Applications for the funding, which falls under FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program, are open through August 8, according to the agency’s announcement.
Trump Praises ‘Model’ Facility in Florida Swamp
President Donald Trump toured Florida’s Everglades facility on July 1, praising its efficiency and conditions.
“We’re surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland, and the only way out is really deportation,” Trump said during his visit.
“So professional, so well done. It’s a model we’d like to see in many states.”
Built in just eight days on land at Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, the compound is fenced in and fortified by natural swamp barriers. It currently holds up to 3,000 migrants.
Noem Encourages Red States to Follow Florida’s Lead
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has been working closely with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on the initiative, said the facility proves states can act faster and more efficiently than federal contractors.
“They were willing to build it and do it much quicker than some of the other vendors,” Noem said. “It was a real solution we’ll be able to utilize if we need to.”
Florida officials are also seeking FEMA reimbursement for the facility’s projected $450 million annual operating cost, citing eligibility under the new grant criteria.
Red States in Talks for ‘Spinoff’ Camps
According to Noem, at least five states are in talks with DHS about building similar facilities. She encouraged governors to get in touch:
“I hope my phone rings off the hook from governors calling and saying, ‘How can we do what Florida just did?’”
Workers recently installed a permanent “Alligator Alcatraz” sign at the site in Collier County, solidifying its role as a symbol of Trump-era immigration policy.
ICE Looking to Double Detention Capacity
The new funding aligns with ICE’s plan to dramatically expand its capacity. As of June, ICE reported 56,000 migrants in custody, the highest total since 2019. DHS internal planning targets 100,000 detention beds by year’s end.
FEMA will distribute the grant money in partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“The goal is to cut red tape and give states the tools they need to quickly build secure, high-capacity facilities,” said a DHS official familiar with the program.
Idaho, Texas, Arizona, and other border states are reportedly reviewing the guidelines.
