In late June, Florida officials took swift action to create a new detention camp for immigrants as part of former President Trump’s deportation push. Governor Ron DeSantis directed emergency relief contractors to set up a facility in the Everglades, near Miami, on an old airstrip. The site, quickly nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” opened with space for 3,000 detainees and plans to expand to hold more people in the coming months.
The project moved fast. Just weeks into the Atlantic hurricane season, Florida’s disaster-management team was already organizing tents, trailers, toilets, and other necessities. Kevin Guthrie, head of the state’s emergency-management division, oversaw the effort. The camp’s remote location provides natural security, and visitors have noted the presence of alligators in nearby waters, a fact former President Trump mentioned during a site visit along with DeSantis and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Trump joked that the alligators help keep detainees contained.
The facility has sparked mixed reactions. It has been praised by conservative circles, even inspiring themed merchandise, but environmentalists and immigration advocates strongly oppose it. During the Trump visit, protesters gathered at the site, where a three-foot alligator quietly lingered in the swamp nearby.
This camp is just the beginning. Florida plans to build more centers, with the next one expected near Jacksonville after July 4. According to state planning documents, these facilities could house up to 10,000 immigrants. DeSantis has positioned Florida as a key player in supporting federal immigration enforcement, even offering National Guard personnel to serve as immigration judges. This marked a new level of state involvement in efforts largely driven by federal agencies.
Florida’s move stands out, as no other state is known to be constructing similar detention camps to ease overcrowding at existing facilities. ICE detention centers nationwide are stretched beyond their funding limits, currently holding over 56,000 people though funded only for around 41,500. Some detainees, especially in Miami, have reported extremely crowded conditions.
Private companies are playing a big role in building and running the new camps. Among them is SLSCO Ltd., a Texas-based construction firm that helped build border barriers under the previous Trump administration. Other contractors include Garner Environmental Services, known for migrant services work in New York City; Doodie Calls, a portable toilet supplier; and CDR Companies, which will handle medical services and site prep.
Unlike the established immigration detention operators like Geo Group and CoreCivic, these contractors are relatively new to this kind of project. Details from a redacted state immigration enforcement plan reveal that Florida is seeking waivers to relax some federal standards typically required for ICE detention centers, aiming to speed up construction and operation. Critics worry this could lower care standards for detainees, while advocates stress that immigration detention should not be harsh or punitive.
The facility’s cost is estimated at around $245 per bed per day, with the state hoping to get reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Some contractors have already voiced concerns that this budget might not be enough to meet necessary standards.
The camp is designed to withstand up to category-2 hurricane winds, and Florida officials say evacuation plans are in place for severe weather. Construction began on June 23, with trailers, generators, and tents arriving fast, lining up on the remote airstrip. DeSantis has proudly highlighted the rapid pace of the project and the site’s natural security.
Florida’s approach reflects its larger role in the current immigration crackdown, which has led to a surge in detentions and unrest. Since January, five out of ten ICE detainee deaths in the U.S. have happened in Florida facilities. The latest was Isidro Perez, a 75-year-old Cuban immigrant who died in Miami’s Krome detention center after reporting chest pains.
As the state presses forward with new detention centers and close cooperation with immigration enforcement, observers are watching closely. The urgency to expand capacity shows how the deportation campaign has stretched resources and stirred local and national debate over immigration, detention conditions, and state versus federal responsibilities.