US President Donald Trump visited a remote migrant detention facility in the Florida Everglades, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” on Tuesday. The facility, which is situated about 45 miles west of downtown Miami, is surrounded by swamps infested with wildlife such as mosquitoes, pythons, crocodiles, and alligators.
Accompanied by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and other officials, Trump praised the facility’s rapid construction and warned about its dangerous surroundings. This location is intended as a deterrent against illegal immigration and has faced legal challenges regarding its environmental impact and potential breach of the US Constitution.
Trump said at a roundtable after the tour, “I looked outside and that’s not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon. You have a lot of bodyguards and a lot of cops that are in the form of alligators. You don’t have to pay them so much.”
The facility, currently capable of housing 3,000 people, is set to see its capacity expanded to house up to 5,000 people. Critics have denounced it as inhumane, while Florida officials see it as a means to assist in enforcing immigration law.
The US has pledged to deport up to 1 million individuals per year, and this facility is among the measures to ramp up such operations. The center is estimated to cost $450 million annually, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursing the state for the expense.
Florida’s stance on immigration enforcement is strong, with Governor DeSantis pledging to support federal efforts.
Migrant communities in the US are living in fear due to increased ICE activities, making this controversial facility a contentious topic in the ongoing immigration policy discussions.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/trump-tours-alligator-alcatraz-migrant-detention-center/a-73113442?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
