Republican lawmaker sparks outrage with plan for ICE facility surrounded by alligator-filled moat

A Republican lawmaker from Florida, Attorney General James Uthmeier, has shocked many people with a wild new idea. He wants to build an immigrant detention center in the middle of the Everglades, surrounded by a moat full of alligators. He’s calling it “Alligator Alcatraz”, and says it would help carry out mass deportations for ICE. The plan has sparked outrage and strong reactions from both supporters and critics, as per reports.

He shared the idea on X in a short 1-minute video. Uthmeier said the Miami-Dade Collier Training Facility is a good place for this, it’s 39 square miles and not being used much. He said it could hold 1,000 migrants within 1–2 months.

He said it’s cheap because they wouldn’t need a big fence, alligators and pythons act like natural guards. His words, “People get out, there’s not much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons. Nowhere to go, nowhere to hide”, as stated by Newsweek.


He strongly supports Trump’s immigration and deportation plans, and said Florida will keep helping. “This presents a great opportunity for Florida to work with Miami-Dade and Collier counties,” he said.

The Department of Homeland Security reposted Uthmeier’s video and seems to agree with the plan. DHS posted on X, "ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ" will help state and local law enforcement arrest and detain immigrants under the 287g Program. Florida has 43% of all 287g ICE agreements in the U.S., followed by Texas with 14%, as stated in the report by Newsweek.

What are people saying

Tom Homan, Trump's former border chief, praised Trump: said the U.S. had the most secure border ever, and only 95 illegal border crossings were reported in 24 hours.

Rep. Maxwell Frost, Democrat from Florida, said Trump’s immigration plan is a “taxpayer-funded kidnapping operation.” Sen. Alex Padilla, Democrat from California, said Trump’s ICE is not focused on criminals, but going after families and taxpayers, according to the report by Newsweek.

FAQs

Q1. What is “Alligator Alcatraz”?
A proposed ICE detention center in the Everglades, surrounded by alligators.

Q2. Who is planning the alligator moat ICE facility?
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, a Republican.