Trump to visit 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention center this week
Share this @internewscast.com

(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump is anticipated to pay a visit to Florida’s contentious detention facility, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” when it inaugurates on Tuesday, according to a source well-acquainted with the situation who spoke to NewsNation.

The immigrant detention center, expedited by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, is situated deep within the state’s Everglades wetlands at the location of the defunct Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport within the Big Cypress National Preserve.

The establishment will feature temporary structures like heavy-duty tents and trailers designed to accommodate detained immigrants. The state projects that by early July, it will have 5,000 immigration detention beds ready for use.

Environmental groups fear the site will harm the Everglades’ ecosystem, which is teeming with massive reptiles, including alligators and Burmese pythons.

DeSantis has touted the area’s wildlife as a positive: “Clearly, from a security perspective, if someone escapes, you know, there’s a lot of alligators. No one’s going anywhere.”

The ill-fated airport originally planned for the space was abandoned in 1970 after an environmental report warned that building a massive airport in the Everglades would “lead to land drainage and development for agriculture, transportation, and services in the Big Cypress Swamp which will inexorably destroy the south Florida ecosystem and thus the Everglades National Park,” according to the National Park Service.

Some Native American leaders claim the center encroaches on sacred land. There are 15 traditional Miccosukee and Seminole villages, as well as ceremonial and burial grounds and other gathering sites, in Big Cypress National Preserve, where the airstrip is located.

Human rights activists have called the facility inhumane and raised issues with potentially thousands of people being housed in temporary tents and trailers during Florida’s hurricane season.

Environmental groups late Friday filed a last-minute lawsuit to halt the facility’s opening.

In response, DeSantis’ office said the detention center is a “necessary staging operation for mass deportations located at a preexisting airport that will have no impact on the surrounding environment.”

DeSantis is also reportedly considering a second processing center at Camp Blanding, a National Guard training base.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Trump Urges Resolution to Government Shutdown at Rose Garden Luncheon: A Call to Action

As the government shutdown stretches into its third week, President Donald Trump…

Suspect in Waffle House Shooting Surrenders to JCPD: Latest Updates on the Case

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — On Tuesday, the Johnson City Police Department…

Five Vehicles Involved in Rollover Collision, Crashing Into Holly Hill Residence

HOLLY HILL, Fla. – Authorities in Holly Hill are currently examining a…

Vermilion County Welcomes New Coordinator to Lead ‘Toys for Tots’ Holiday Efforts

VERMILION COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — As the holiday season approaches, Vermilion County’s…

Texas Tech Implements Ban on Traditional Tortilla Toss at Events

In Lubbock, Texas, Kirby Hocutt, the Director of Athletics at Texas Tech,…

Chaos in the Skies: American Airlines Pilots Misinterpret Passenger Activity as Security Threat

(The Hill) — A flight bound for Los Angeles was forced to…

Rising Flight Delays and Cancellations Intensify Legislative Pressure Amid Shutdown Concerns

The recent wave of delays at some of the country’s busiest airports…

Record-Breaking Run on Grand Teton Sparks Controversy Amid Alleged Trespassing Violation

Michelino Sunseri made headlines with his daring achievement, scaling Grand Teton, one…

Shocking Forensic Revelations: Alivea Goncalves’ Sister’s Post-Mortem Injuries Unveiled

Alivea Goncalves has disclosed unsettling details about the tragic death of her…

Escaped Inmate Recaptured After Daring Leap from Jail Transport Van

A man described as a serious violent felon is once again in…

Ghost Pirates Ice Cove Achieves Major Milestone in Port Wentworth

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Port Wentworth is marking a significant achievement on Tuesday…

Truck Fire Temporarily Halts Traffic on I-57 in Iroquois County

IROQUOIS COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — A section of Interstate 57 was shut…