Trump says the only way out of Florida’s new “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant center is deportation, calling it a model for other states.

Trump Touts Security at New Everglades Detention Facility

President Donald Trump toured the new “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention center on Tuesday, declaring that deportation is the sole path to release from the high-security complex deep in Florida’s Everglades. Addressing reporters after viewing the facility, Trump described it as a strong deterrent for the nation’s most dangerous migrants, stating, “The only way out is really deportation.”

The newly constructed center is located on a remote former airport in Miami-Dade County and is surrounded by ten miles of unforgiving swampland, earning its nickname for the alligator-laden terrain. “It’s known as Alligator Alcatraz, which is very appropriate because I looked outside and that’s not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon,” Trump remarked. He emphasized the inaccessibility of the area and the security the environment provides.

A sign near the press area highlighted the facility’s capabilities: space for up to 3,000 detainees, 1,000 staff members including more than 400 security personnel, over 200 security cameras, and 28,000 feet of barbed wire. The entire center was constructed in just eight days, a feat officials described as an example of effective government coordination and emergency action.

Leaders Praise Rapid Construction, Model for Other States

Trump was joined by a roundtable of top officials after the tour, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Representative Byron Donalds, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, and White House Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller. Noem called the facility “a fantastic representation of what can happen when all of government works together, and when it’s accountable to the taxpayers and to the citizens that live here.”

Florida Governor DeSantis authorized the construction under an emergency order, converting the former airport’s 30-square-mile property into a fortified complex with tented structures to house detainees. Noem described “Alligator Alcatraz” as “state of the art” and urged other governors to consider similar approaches in response to national immigration challenges.

“Thank you to Governor DeSantis for stepping up and being an example to other governors,” Noem said, expressing hope that other state leaders would reach out to replicate Florida’s rapid action and coordination. The collaboration between state and federal agencies was widely credited as crucial to the project’s completion and effectiveness.

As the Biden administration continues to face scrutiny over immigration enforcement, the opening of “Alligator Alcatraz” signals a new chapter in border policy under Trump’s leadership. The facility’s security measures, remote location, and swift construction are likely to set a precedent for similar projects across the country, as the administration seeks to address illegal immigration with both urgency and strict enforcement.