Migrant detention in a swamp, according to Trump, is a "not a nice deal"
In a move that has sparked controversy, the Trump administration has announced plans to open a new migrant detention center in Florida's Everglades, dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz." The facility, located at the remote Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, is designed to hold up to 5,000 migrants suspected of being undocumented immigrants.
The detention center is part of an effort led by President Donald Trump to expand detention capacity in line with a broader mass deportation policy. The annual operating cost is reported to be around $450 million, with some funding expected to come from FEMA's Shelter and Services Program.
The setup of the center primarily involves heavy-duty tents and trailer facilities, reflecting the remote location of the Everglades. The facility has been described as temporary, though the exact timeline of its operation remains unclear. Environmental groups have raised opposition to building the center in the Everglades due to ecological concerns.
The detention center shares its name with the infamous Alcatraz Island prison near San Francisco, known as "Alligator Alcatraz" due to the presence of alligators and snakes in the area. The original Alcatraz prison, which operated from 1934 to 1963, was the most feared prison in the U.S., housing particularly dangerous criminals.
President Trump has playfully warned migrants about escape attempts from the new detention center, suggesting that one must learn to run zigzagging to increase chances by about one percent. The center's isolation, with only one road leading to it and surrounded by dangerous wildlife, further deters potential escapees.
The detention center is not intended to be a proposed location for housing migrants, but rather a solution for "criminal illegal aliens." Officials are currently examining the legality and logistics of reopening Alcatraz Island prison for this purpose.
This development marks a significant shift in U.S. migrant detention policy, emphasizing a hardline approach focused on increasing detention capacity in remote locations. The project has been supported and promoted by President Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Additionally, there are plans to develop a similar detention center at Camp Blanding, a Florida National Guard training site in Starke, indicating a broader expansion of migrant detention infrastructure in the state.
The Commission, amidst this escalating politics and general-news relating to the expansion of migrant detention centers, has not yet adopted a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in the context of these detention centers, garnering concerns in the realm of crime-and-justice. Concurrently, there are discussions about repurposing the infamous Alcatraz Island prison for housing migrants deemed as criminal illegal aliens, a decision that could potentially revise the existing criminal justice system.
