EVERGLADES, Fla. – As a reporter for News 6, I was invited to get a look at Alligator Alcatraz, the makeshift immigration detention center in Florida.
I was just a few feet away as President Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis discussed this unique new facility about 50 miles west of Miami. This detention center is designed to house migrants apprehended in Florida and around the country, primarily for deportation processing, with an expected capacity of around 3,000 to 5,000 individuals.
President Trump described this facility as an excellent and cost effective project, after touring it with Gov. DeSantis.
“Very soon this facility will house some of the most menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet,” President Trump said.
The name “Alligator Alcatraz” emphasizes the dangerous and secure nature of the environment. It is assumed that anyone trying to escape would not be able to because of the large number of alligators and pythons roaming the perimeter.
The facility is huge, with heavy-duty tents and trailers, rows and rows of beds, barbed wire, and ICE agents stationed throughout.
DeSantis clarified the intention behind this setup, telling me it would not become permanent.
“No, this is a temporary facility to be able to meet the needs of President Trump’s program,” DeSantis said.
It is also likely that people detained for being here illegally who live in Osceola County and other parts of Central Florida could end up here.
President Trump had significant praise for Gov. DeSantis, mentioning that there may be other partnerships like this with the federal government since this is not intended to be a long-term solution.
I also asked President Trump about the future of the country.
He shared, “We have turned this country around in less than six months. We are the hottest country in the world right now and we turned it around fast. Some of it was psychology.”