The first group of immigrant detainees has arrived at a new detention center in the Florida Everglades, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” amid ongoing mass deportation efforts in the United States.
The facility, built in just eight days, received its first detainees on Wednesday night, according to Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“We are working at turbo speed on cost-effective and innovative ways to deliver on the American people’s mandate for mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens,” McLaughlin said in a statement. “We will expand facilities and bed space in just days, thanks to our partnership with Florida.”
The detention center boasts over 200 security cameras, more than 28,000 feet of barbed wire, and a security staff of 400 personnel. Once fully operational, it will have the capacity to hold about 3,000 detainees, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced.
However, the rapid construction and operation of “Alligator Alcatraz” have sparked significant backlash. Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit to halt the facility’s construction, arguing that state and federal officials have overlooked crucial environmental regulations in their haste to build.
Human rights advocates and Native American tribes have also protested against the center. They contend that the facility endangers the delicate Everglades ecosystem, exposes detainees to harsh conditions due to extreme heat and mosquito infestations, and occupies land that holds sacred significance for indigenous tribes.
“This detention center not only threatens our environment but also disregards the rights and well-being of thousands of individuals,” said a spokesperson for one of the human rights organizations. “We cannot stand by while vulnerable communities are subjected to inhumane conditions.”
The controversy surrounding “Alligator Alcatraz” highlights ongoing debates over immigration policies and human rights in the United States. As the situation develops, many are calling for a reevaluation of the approaches taken toward immigration and detention.
