Donald Trump‘s administration is facing massive backlash over its recent steps to tackle the “illegal immigration problem.” On Monday, Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier, announced that multiple facilities are coming up in America soon where the undocumented immigrants will be detained. Florida’s Everglades, is a proposed facility which Uthmeier has dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’.
It is being called ‘Alligator Alcatraz‘ because it would leave no chance for detainees to escape. And if a daring detainee plans a prison escape, they would face alligators and pythons in the wetlands around the site. “Nowhere to go, nowhere to hide,” he said in a video.
The project has already received a green light from the Department of Homeland Security. DHS secretary Kristi Noem revealed that the federal government will be largely funding the Florida project. In a tweet dated June 23, DHS wrote, “We are working on cost-effective and innovative ways to deliver on the American people’s mandate for mass deportations. Alligator Alcatraz will expand facilities and bed space in just days, thanks to our partnership with Florida.”
We are working on cost-effective and innovative ways to deliver on the American people’s mandate for mass deportations. Alligator Alcatraz will expand facilities and bed space in just days, thanks to our partnership with Florida.https://t.co/NWdAnEUC0h
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) June 24, 2025
The announcement has led to widespread criticism as critics call it “cruel” and “downright sadistic and inhumane.”
Nayna Gupta, policy director at the American Immigration Council, on BlueSky, called the plan an “absolute horror show.” She raised concern about the facility “surrounded by alligators and snakes in dangerous heat with NO oversight.”
🚨 Absolute horror show as Florida takes steps to build its own detention center it’s calling “Alligator Alcatraz” for non citizen human beings to be held in facility surrounded by alligators and snakes in dangerous heat with NO oversight
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/23/u…
— Nayna Gupta (@naynagupta.bsky.social) June 24, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Someone wrote, “They’re not protecting anyone, they’re stealing emergency relief money to build detention centers in a swamp. Cruelty is always the point.”
Someone tweeted, “Alligator Alcatraz? Seriously? Using Florida’s Everglades—home to thousands of alligators—as a human detention center is not just cruel, it’s downright sadistic and inhumane. This is the Trump administration doubling down on cruelty, turning immigration enforcement into a grotesque spectacle. Using predators and nature as a barrier to trap desperate people? It’s beyond disgusting — it’s a monstrous violation of basic human decency. This isn’t about security; it’s about terrorizing vulnerable communities for political gain. Shame on anyone supporting this nightmare.”
Alligator Alcatraz? Seriously? Using Florida’s Everglades—home to thousands of alligators—as a human detention center is not just cruel, it’s downright sadistic and inhumane. This is the Trump administration doubling down on cruelty, turning immigration enforcement into a…
— Charles Perreira (@CharlesPerreir7) June 19, 2025
“Uthmeier’s “Alligator Alcatraz” proposal is a cruel, inhumane, and legally dubious scheme that weaponizes nature against vulnerable immigrants, reflecting a disturbing disregard for human rights and judicial oversight,” wrote another.
Uthmeier’s “Alligator Alcatraz” proposal is a cruel, inhumane, and legally dubious scheme that weaponizes nature against vulnerable immigrants, reflecting a disturbing disregard for human rights and judicial oversight.
— Richard Angwin (@RichardAngwin) June 20, 2025
Someone pointed out, “Why does it need to be so complex? Most walked into Texas, Arizona, Cali. Load them on school buses, drive to the border, open the gate and school bus door, hand them a bottle of water on their way out and wish them well.”
Why does it need to be so complex? Most walked into Texas, Arizona, Cali. Load them on school buses, drive to the border, open the gate and school bus door, hand them a bottle of water on their way out and wish them well.
— Mike Ross (@mrossfinancial) June 20, 2025
“Purpose is to deport – not house!” wrote another X user.
…while ruining the environment in the Everglades. Purpose is to deport – not house!
— moins que demain (@MoinsQue) June 20, 2025
Trump administration appears hellbent to make immigrants suffer in every possible way. From arresting them in broad daylight, to imposing fines up to $1.8 million, there’s no stopping the ruling party. And now, the detention center is about to make things much worse. However, the die-hard MAGA fans are still cheering loudly with several people expressing that the migrants deserve such ‘cruel’ treatment. What do you think?
