Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday that the federal government will help fund Florida’s construction of new immigration detention centers, including a controversial site deep in the Everglades, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by state officials.
The funding will primarily come from FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program, a congressional initiative originally designed to support cities and nonprofits caring for migrants and asylum-seekers released from federal custody. FEMA, a disaster-relief agency under the Department of Homeland Security, has faced steep budget cuts during President Trump’s second term, but is now being tapped for immigration infrastructure.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we’re moving at turbo speed to carry out the American people’s mandate for mass deportations,” Noem said in a statement to CBS News. “Thanks to our partnership with Florida, we’re expanding detention space quickly and cost-effectively.”
What’s Being Built
Florida officials revealed plans last week to support the federal government in holding migrants awaiting deportation. State Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed Monday that the federal government had signed off on their proposal to convert an old Everglades airfield into a high-security detention site.
Dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” the site will house noncitizens with criminal records who are awaiting removal from the U.S. Uthmeier said the surrounding swamp—filled with alligators and invasive pythons—makes escape virtually impossible.
“There’s really nowhere to go,” Uthmeier said during an interview with conservative host Benny Johnson. “No way in, no way out.”
Florida officials say the Everglades facility, along with other planned sites, could hold up to 5,000 detainees and begin operations as early as next month. While they are being called temporary, the scale suggests long-term use is possible.
A Growing State-Federal Partnership
The move signals a growing alliance between Republican-led states and the Trump administration in carrying out aggressive immigration enforcement. States like Texas, Louisiana, and Florida have increasingly used their own resources and personnel to assist federal efforts, including deputizing state National Guard troops as immigration enforcers.
“Florida will fight alongside this administration to keep our state safe, strong, and free,” Uthmeier said in his statement. “I’m proud to help support President Trump and Secretary Noem in their mission to fix our illegal immigration problem once and for all. ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ and the other Florida facilities will help us do exactly that.”
Criticism and Concerns
The plan has already sparked criticism from immigrant rights groups and environmental advocates who question both the ethics of the facility’s remote location and the safety of building such a center in the fragile ecosystem of the Everglades.
Still, Florida officials remain confident the partnership with DHS will move forward without major obstacles—and see it as a model for other states to follow.
