President Donald Trump visited Florida’s newly constructed immigration detention facility, informally dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” on Tuesday, where he made controversial remarks about the role of local wildlife in deterring escapes. Accompanied by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Trump toured the remote site, which is located about 50 kilometers west of Miami, deep in the Florida Everglades.
“We’re surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland, and the only way out is really deportation,” Trump told reporters, according to AFP.
“Guards You Don’t Have to Pay”
Surrounded by swampy terrain teeming with alligators, pythons, and mosquitoes, the president joked that the facility’s location alone would discourage escape attempts.
“A lot of bodyguards and a lot of cops in the form of alligators—you don’t have to pay them so much,” Trump quipped. “I wouldn’t want to run through the Everglades for long. It will keep people where they’re supposed to be.”
Before his arrival, Trump also made light of the escape risk, joking that detainees should be trained on how to flee from alligators.
“Don’t run in a straight line. Run like this,” he said, waving his hands in a zigzag motion. “And you know what? Your chances go up about 1%.”
About the Facility
Built in just eight days on an abandoned airstrip, the facility will open on Wednesday and begin accepting detainees, according to Governor DeSantis. The camp has the capacity to house up to 3,000 individuals and is part of the administration’s broader crackdown on illegal immigration.
According to the Associated Press, the facility features:
- Over 200 surveillance cameras
- More than 28,000 feet of barbed wire fencing
- 400 security personnel
The harsh environment and rhetoric surrounding “Alligator Alcatraz” have sparked outcry from immigrant rights groups and civil liberties advocates, who argue the facility symbolizes the Trump administration’s punitive approach to immigration.
Despite the criticism, Trump remained unapologetic during his visit, promising that the camp would be used to detain what he described as “some of the most vicious people on the planet.”
