Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier has proposed converting an abandoned airfield deep in the Everglades into a temporary detention center for undocumented migrants—dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” The 30-square-mile property, surrounded by swamps and native predators, could house up to 1,000 individuals and be operational within 30 to 60 days, according to Uthmeier.
He pitched the idea as a low-cost security solution: the natural environment, not fencing or guards, would prevent escapes. “If someone gets out, there’s not much waiting… other than alligators and pythons,” he said.
Florida’s ICE facilities are currently over capacity, with roughly 53,000 detainees while Congress funds beds for just over 41,000—leaving the agency more than a billion dollars in the red. Uthmeier told state media that the site could alleviate overcrowding without costly perimeter investments, aligning with the Trump administration’s escalated immigration enforcement strategy, including a daily target of 3,000 arrests.
The proposal has raised immediate concerns:
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Legal and civil rights: Detainees could find themselves in a remote location with limited access to legal representation or due process.
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Environmental impact: The Everglades is a federally protected wilderness, and disrupting it could spark opposition from conservation groups.
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Funding uncertainty: Neither federal approval nor detailed plans have been secured—raising questions about oversight and logistics.
Uthmeier positioned the plan as a pragmatic response to ICE’s strained resource situation: “We’re leading on immigration enforcement,” he said. But whether “Alligator Alcatraz” becomes reality depends on federal cooperation—and whether voters and courts weigh in.
