Fact Check: 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention center to hold 1,000 migrants in Everglades.

Fact Check: 'Alligator Alcatraz' Detention Center to Hold 1,000 Migrants in Everglades

What We Know

Florida is in the process of constructing a detention facility for migrants, informally referred to as "Alligator Alcatraz." This facility will be located at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Everglades and is designed to temporarily hold up to 1,000 migrants. The construction is expected to be completed within 30 to 60 days, with an estimated operational cost of around $450 million per year, partially funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (New York Times, BBC). Florida's Attorney General, James Uthmeier, has emphasized that the remote location acts as a natural deterrent against escape due to the presence of local wildlife, including alligators and pythons (BBC).

Analysis

The claim that the "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center will hold 1,000 migrants is supported by multiple credible sources. The New York Times reports that the facility is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to increase detention capacity for undocumented immigrants (source-1). Additionally, the BBC confirms that the facility is expected to be built quickly and will accommodate approximately 1,000 individuals (source-2).

Critics of the plan, including local lawmakers and environmental advocates, have raised concerns about the potential ecological impact on the Everglades and the ethical implications of creating a new detention system outside federal oversight (source-1, source-5). The reliability of the sources reporting on this development is high, as they include established news organizations with a history of covering immigration policy and local governance.

Conclusion

The claim that the "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center will hold 1,000 migrants in the Everglades is True. This assertion is substantiated by credible reports from multiple sources detailing the facility's purpose, capacity, and construction timeline. The information aligns consistently across reputable news outlets, confirming the state's plans to establish this controversial detention center.

Fact Check: 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention center to hold 1,000 migrants in Everglades.