The issuance of distinct VIP Movement Notifications for Palm Beach and Ochopee this Tuesday suggests a possible visit by President Donald Trump to a location in Eastern Collier County’s Everglades, colloquially known as the ‘Alligator Alcatraz.’ These notifications ordinarily pertain to temporary air traffic constraints ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) whenever significant personalities are in motion. Such limitations are orchestrated in collaboration with the U.S. Secret Service and broadcasted to aviators via Notices to Airmen notifications.
Recently, two Notifications emerged from the FAA Safety Team: one for Palm Beach, in close proximity to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property, and another for Ochopee. In Ochopee, an immigration detention facility cited as the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ is being set up at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport.
A halt in flight activity for essential security purposes was imposed over the Everglades station, set to last from June 26 to December 26 of this year. The ban restricts the use of unmanned aircraft systems, encompassing drones and their related ground control systems employed for tasks including data collection, surveying, and shipments.
At the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration detention center project site, recent activity was observed consisting of vehicular movement and a demonstration. No Notices to Airmen have been issued for either Palm Beach or Ochopee till now.
During a demonstration that took place outside the project site this Saturday, a significant flow of dump trucks and other vehicles were consistently seen to be coming and going. The initially envisaged project for this site was a substantial jetport back in the 1970s, but it was halted by President Richard M. Nixon. Today, only a large runway remains.
Two environmental organizations, Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, lodged federal lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Florida Division of Emergency Management, and Miami-Dade County on the preceding Friday. The litigation calls for a stop to the ongoing project until it meets the strict requirements of an environmental review, as mandated by Federal law.
According to the lawsuit lodged in the Miami federal court, there also needs to be an opportunity for open comment from the public. A spokesperson for DeSantis confirmed that the administration would confront the lawsuit in court.
As per state authorities, the processing of people who unlawfully crossed into the U.S. could start at the center as early as Tuesday. Under DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has been assertively enforcing immigration rules, demonstrating support for the federal government’s intensified crackdown on unlawful immigration.
The secretary of the DHS, Kristi Noem, has stated that the detention center project would be partially financed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). She singled out Florida for praise due to their proposal for the facility.
The secretary also revealed that FEMA is exploring opportunities to increase immigration detention capacity and is currently evaluating contracts that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has with various vendors for detention bed services.