“Alligator Alcatraz” Opens in Florida Everglades to House Migrants

A controversial new migrant detention center deep in the Florida Everglades—dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz”—has officially received its first group of detainees, according to a spokesperson for Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier.

“People are there,” confirmed Press Secretary Jae Williams, without specifying how many or when they arrived. Nicknamed for its remote location and tight security, the center is being built at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport site in Ochopee, Florida. It is expected to eventually hold up to 3,000 detainees.

Video captured by NBC6 Thursday morning showed a U.S. Department of Homeland Security bus entering the facility, followed closely by marked vehicles from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. While no official confirmation has been given about who was inside, multiple unmarked vans with government plates were also seen arriving and leaving throughout the early morning.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management, responsible for constructing the site, has not responded to media inquiries. Governor Ron DeSantis has previously backed the facility as part of the state’s tougher immigration stance, with Uthmeier taking credit for the idea and stating on X, “Next stop: back to where they came from.”

Food trucks and support vehicles were also observed entering the compound late Wednesday, indicating that preparations for full-scale operations are ongoing.

The facility has drawn sharp criticism from immigrant rights advocates, who argue it underscores Florida’s increasingly harsh approach to undocumented migrants. Still, the state maintains it is focused on border security and deterring illegal entry.

As the nation heads into Independence Day celebrations, the reality at “Alligator Alcatraz” paints a stark contrast—a remote detention center, filled with people awaiting uncertain futures.