Florida Proposes Unique Immigration Detention Center
Florida Attorney General James Usmiere is advocating for an unconventional facility for detaining illegal immigrants, which he has dubbed “Crocodile Alcatraz.” This proposal arises as the state’s judicial system grapples with increasing jail populations, necessitating additional options for housing illegal immigrants.
The suggested site is the nearly unused Miami-Dade Collier Training Facility, described by Usmiere as a “virtually abandoned airport location nestled in the Everglades.”
Usmiere shared his idea in a social media video, asserting, “Florida is at the forefront of immigration enforcement and backs ICE’s initiatives to detain and deport criminal foreigners.” He also noted that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has tasked state officials with pinpointing new temporary detention sites for illegal immigrants.
“I believe this is the best option. I’m calling it ‘Alligator Alcatraz.’ This expansive 30-square-mile area is entirely encircled by the Everglades, presenting cost-effective solutions for establishing temporary detention facilities, without heavy investment in the surrounding area,” he added. He mentioned that if detainees attempt to escape, “we usually don’t wait for them, unless they’re crocodiles or pythons.”
He emphasized that the facility could be operational in a month or two, potentially housing up to 1,000 illegal immigrants. “This presents a great chance for collaboration between Florida and Miami-Dade and Collier counties,” he stated. “Crocodile Alcatraz is ready to go.”
The idea emerges shortly after federal judges noted inconsistencies in enforcing certain state laws. A judge recently expressed skepticism over the Attorney General’s claims regarding legal constraints on law enforcement’s ability to act against illegal immigration.
According to US District Judge Kathleen Williams, Usmiere’s arguments did not effectively address the injunction currently halting the law. He had contended that the ruling unjustly limited police and deputies from enforcing regulations.
“Being held in a light empty signifies the cost of upholding the rule of law while firmly supporting President Trump’s immigration agenda,” he wrote in response.
Meanwhile, Florida continues to align with the Trump administration’s deportation strategy, having arrested over 100 illegal immigrants at a construction site in Tallahassee in late May. In collaboration with state police, nearly 800 arrests were made across Florida as part of a coordinated operation named Operation Tidal Wave.
