‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detention Center Faces Mosquito Swarms and Flooding Woes

The new $450 million migrant detention center deep in the Florida Everglades—dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz”—is facing backlash as reporters and lawmakers highlight extreme conditions, including swarms of mosquitoes and rising floodwaters.

Built in just eight days, the center consists of tents and trailers on remote wetland 45 miles west of Miami. Surrounded by barbed wire and monitored by over 200 security cameras, the facility was designed to send a tough message on immigration enforcement.

But journalists covering the site have struggled to report through clouds of mosquitoes. NBC6 and Telemundo reporters were seen dousing themselves in bug spray mid-broadcast. Even visiting lawmakers wore netting to keep pests at bay.

Though officials say the mosquitoes aren’t currently carrying harmful viruses, the CDC warns the area’s standing water could pose future health risks.

Meanwhile, heavy rain has already caused minor flooding at the site, raising concerns ahead of hurricane season. Florida officials insist the structures can withstand winds up to 110 mph and say improvements were made to seal water entry points.

Still, critics question the wisdom of placing a high-security facility in the middle of the Everglades, where the real threat might not be alligators—but mosquitoes.