Florida’s Rapid-Built Detention Center Spurs Interest from Other States

Florida’s recently established “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center is drawing national attention and could soon serve as a blueprint for other states.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem commended the facility, noting that five Republican governors are in talks to create similar centers.

Constructed in just eight days on Everglades land near the Miami-Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, the state-run site currently provides up to 1,000 beds, with plans to expand capacity to 3,000.

The airstrip at the location allows for detainees to be flown in directly, streamlining federal operations. Operating costs are projected at $450 million per year.

The opening comes amid an intensification of immigration enforcement efforts under President Trump, who has pledged to carry out the largest mass deportation in American history.

To support this, Congress recently allocated billions to expand detention infrastructure, while private contractors like GEO Group and CoreCivic have been enlisted to further boost capacity.

Despite support from federal officials and the Trump administration, “Alligator Alcatraz” has faced immediate backlash.

Advocacy groups have filed lawsuits, citing human rights and environmental concerns, while Indigenous organizations also oppose the project’s location. Secretary Noem assured that the center meets federal standards, urging other states—particularly Democratic-led ones—to collaborate with DHS in expanding detention capacity.

As of June, the U.S. held over 56,000 immigration detainees, with officials warning that further expansion is needed to meet deportation targets.