Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made a shocking claim on Tuesday, stating that a detained undocumented immigrant “began eating himself” mid-flight while being deported. The startling allegation came during a visit to Florida’s controversial migrant detention facility, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” alongside President Donald Trump, according to the New York Post.
“We’re dealing with some of the most dangerous, deranged individuals out there,” Noem said, recounting the incident during a press briefing at the Everglades-based camp.
Noem Says Cannibal Incident Highlights Deportation Priorities
Describing the alleged episode, Noem claimed that U.S. Marshals and ICE agents apprehended a migrant who had reportedly exhibited cannibalistic behavior. While on a deportation flight, the man began biting into his own arms, prompting emergency intervention and removal from the aircraft to seek immediate medical attention.
“They told me they had a cannibal on board,” Noem said. “He literally started eating himself. That’s the kind of individual we’re trying to get off American streets.”
She used the disturbing account to reinforce the administration’s focus on targeting violent offenders as part of Trump’s second-term mass deportation initiative.
Alligator Alcatraz: Florida’s Swamp-Surrounded Detention Site
The newly operational facility, located on an abandoned airfield west of Miami, is surrounded by treacherous swampland teeming with alligators and pythons. Constructed in just eight days, it can detain up to 5,000 people and has become central to the Trump administration’s controversial immigration crackdown.
State and federal officials say the location provides a natural barrier, reducing the need for high-security fencing. Critics, however, argue the remote camp is inhumane and emblematic of a dystopian approach to immigration.
Noem Threatens Legal Action Against CNN
In addition to the cannibalism claim, Noem also told reporters her department is considering prosecuting CNN over its reporting on IceBlock, a smartphone app that reportedly helps migrants track ICE operations to avoid arrest.
“We’re working with the Department of Justice to see if we can prosecute them,” Noem said. “What they’re doing is illegal.”
The threat of legal action underscores the administration’s increasingly aggressive stance on immigration enforcement, both online and on the ground.
FAQs:
Where is Alligator Alcatraz located?
It sits roughly 37 miles west of Miami, deep within the Florida Everglades, surrounded by wildlife-filled wetlands.
How many detainees can it hold?
The facility can house up to 5,000 individuals.
Why was the facility built?
It’s part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration and Republican-led states to fulfill a campaign promise of mass deportations, labeled by Trump as “the largest in U.S. history.”
