Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is facing mounting scrutiny over the construction of a sprawling immigrant detention facility deep in the Everglades — a project critics claim is fueled by political ambition, tainted by donor favoritism, and laced with disturbing echoes of historical abuses.
Dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” the detention center is expected to house up to 5,000 immigrants awaiting deportation and be fully operational by the end of July, according to state documents obtained by the Associated Press. For DeSantis, the facility marks a significant political moment following his failed 2024 presidential bid — and a possible attempt to reset his national image on immigration.
But as the bulldozers roll in, so do the controversies.
Critics Warn of Concentration Camp Parallels
The facility, surrounded by the unforgiving swamps of the Florida Everglades, has drawn comparisons to historical internment sites. In an MSNBC op-ed, one historian specializing in the history of concentration camps called it a modern echo of mass civilian detainment “without real trials,” warning that its existence reflects “serious dangers ahead for the country.”
State officials argue the Everglades location serves as a natural barrier to escape, while supporters — including Donald Trump — have made off-color jokes about alligators “guarding” the perimeter. But to immigrant rights advocates and legal experts, the facility is less a deterrent and more a symbol of punitive overreach.
Contracting Controversy Raises ‘Pay-for-Play’ Red Flags
Beyond the human rights concerns, Democrats in Florida are raising the alarm over what they see as a glaring case of political favoritism.
According to a Florida Trident investigation, the state awarded a $1.1 million contract to IRG Global Emergency Management to provide operational support at the site — despite the company having been formed just months earlier, in February 2025. IRG is reportedly an offshoot of Access Restoration Services (ARS), a firm that has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to DeSantis-aligned PACs and other Republican causes in Florida in recent years.
Both IRG and the Florida Division of Emergency Management refused to comment when contacted by reporters.
“This is textbook pay-for-play,” said Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani. “It’s favoritism and cronyism, plain and simple.”
No Federal Funding — Yet
Despite claims by Trump and others that the federal government would support the project, court filings reveal that no federal dollars have been allocated to “Alligator Alcatraz” — nor has Florida even applied for them.
“Florida has received no federal funds, nor has it applied for federal funds related to the temporary detention center,” a DHS official stated in a recent filing.
That revelation has further inflamed tensions in the state, with Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried blasting DeSantis for draining state resources without any federal commitment.
“DeSantis is stealing $450 million of taxpayer dollars — money that should be going to fix Florida’s property insurance crisis, strengthen public schools, expand Medicaid, and build affordable housing,” Fried said. “Everyday Floridians and immigrant families are paying for this cruel political stunt.”
Fried also condemned the facility’s refusal to allow Democratic lawmakers to inspect the site, calling it a disturbing lack of transparency for a project of this magnitude.
As construction nears completion and attention from both national media and immigration activists intensifies, the Everglades detention center may soon define DeSantis’s legacy more than any campaign slogan — and not in the way he intended.
