President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Florida on Tuesday to tour the state’s newly constructed illegal immigration detention facility, a high-security site informally dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” The facility, located in the remote Everglades on the grounds of a long-abandoned airport, has drawn both political praise and legal scrutiny since construction began earlier this month.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier described the facility as a cost-effective solution to the surge in illegal immigration arrests following Governor Ron DeSantis’s intensified enforcement efforts. The 30-square-mile site is surrounded by natural barriers and retrofitted to house up to 5,000 detainees awaiting deportation.
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin confirmed that the project’s funding partially originates from a Biden-era FEMA program, which previously covered hotel lodging for migrants. That redirection of funds has drawn criticism from immigration advocates and environmental groups alike.
Critics have focused their objections on two main fronts: humanitarian concerns and environmental impact. Activist groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Everglades, have filed lawsuits aimed at halting construction, citing potential damage to the Everglades ecosystem and disruption to nearby Native American communities.
Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades, called the project “a scheme” that undermines decades of taxpayer-funded conservation efforts. McLaughlin, in response, dismissed the lawsuit as “lazy,” asserting that the land has already been developed for over a decade and has passed the necessary environmental review at the state level.
Over the weekend, protestors lined the highway leading from Miami to the facility, voicing their opposition to both the detention center and its isolated location. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) condemned the project in harsh terms, calling it inhumane and incompatible with democratic values.
Governor DeSantis defended the facility on Monday, framing opposition as politically motivated. “People are using the Everglades as a pretext to oppose immigration enforcement,” he said. He also confirmed Trump’s upcoming visit and emphasized the administration’s backing.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that the president’s visit aims to “underscore the need to pass the Big, Beautiful Bill,” legislation that includes funding for additional immigration infrastructure. Leavitt also confirmed that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem will accompany Trump during the tour.
According to officials, Alligator Alcatraz is equipped with essential amenities, including air conditioning, medical care, and laundry services, modeled after Florida’s hurricane relief sites. The facility’s design includes an operational runway to expedite deportation proceedings directly from the site.