Federal Government Backs Florida's Detention Plan

(MENAFN) On Monday, Kristi Noem, the US Secretary of Homeland Security, revealed that the federal administration will provide financial support for Florida’s initiative to develop immigration holding facilities, including the controversial "Alligator Alcatraz" proposed for the Everglades region.

Noem stated that the bulk of the funding will come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s shelter and services initiative.

This program offers aid to communities and organizations that accommodate migrants released from federal custody along the US-Mexico boundary.

"Under President Trump's leadership, 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," Noem told a news agency.

She emphasized that new sites and additional accommodation space will be established within days due to the collaboration with Florida.

Last week, Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier declared that a deserted airstrip in the Everglades would be repurposed as a detention facility targeting migrants with criminal records, which has been informally dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz."

Uthmeier pointed out that the site’s wild environment offers a natural barrier to escape, cautioning that any attempted breakout would confront threats such as alligators and pythons, with minimal chances of evasion.

On Monday, Uthmeier confirmed that the federal government had granted authorization for Florida’s proposal to construct "Alligator Alcatraz" along with other similar installations.

These facilities are expected to accommodate up to 5,000 individuals and could begin functioning as temporary centers as soon as early next month.

MENAFN24062025000045017167ID1109715033