Fri Jun 27 12:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Florida to Build Immigration Detention Facility “Alligator Alcatraz” with FEMA Funds, Sparking Controversy
**TALLAHASSEE, FL** – Florida officials, with the support of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), are moving forward with plans to build a new immigration detention facility in the Everglades, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” The facility, which will use temporary buildings and shelters similar to those used during natural disasters, is partially funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), igniting debate over the allocation of resources and the potential impact on hurricane relief efforts.
Governor Ron DeSantis’s office confirmed that the facility will be located at the abandoned Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, leveraging an existing airstrip. The state is utilizing the governor’s emergency powers to establish the site.
The DHS has stated that the facility is part of a broader effort to “deliver on the American people’s mandate for mass deportations,” adding that it will “expand facilities and bed space in just days, thanks to our partnership with Florida.”
While FEMA funds will be allocated to the project, officials assure that the money will not be drawn from the Disaster Relief Fund, which is reserved for natural disasters. Instead, the facility will be primarily funded by FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program, which was approved by Congress in fiscal year 2023. This program provides funding to state and local governments, as well as nonprofits, to provide temporary shelter, food, and transportation to migrants. Roughly $625 million in this program is said to be allocated to this project. Florida will initially pay for the facility and then submit a reimbursement request to FEMA and DHS.
The estimated cost of the facility is $450 million for one year. Construction began on June 23rd, and the facility is expected to open in 30 to 60 days with an initial capacity of 500 to 1,000 beds, expanding to 5,000 beds by early July.
The project has drawn criticism, with some accusing the government of diverting funds that could be used for hurricane preparedness, especially given NOAA’s forecast for an active 2025 hurricane season. Some have even likened the facility to a “concentration camp,” raising concerns about the treatment of detainees.
The facility’s remote location in the Everglades, surrounded by alligators and pythons, has also contributed to its “Alligator Alcatraz” nickname, evoking images of isolation and limited escape routes.
Furthermore, DeSantis recently mentioned that Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, a training base for the Florida National Guard, will soon be formally announced as an immigration detention facility. The “Immigration Enforcement Operations Plan” also said Florida identified several locations in the northeastern and south-central regions of the state that could serve as detention centres, often near airstrips.
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