By Nsalligator Alcatraz
US President Donald Trump recently pulled off one of his most extreme immigration stunts. He has opened a migrant detention center unlike any other in the Everglades of Florida, guarded by alligators. Critics call it cruel, but Trump and his allies insist it’s only the beginning.President Trump unveiled “Alligator Alcatraz,” a contentious migrant detention facility in Florida’s Everglades, guarded by alligators and pythons.Environmentalists and human rights groups have expressed outrage over the project, which Trump defends as a strong border deterrent.What exactly is 鈥楢lligator Alcatraz鈥?The site, known as Alligator Alcatraz because of the swamp that is teeming with reptiles, is the most recent contentious step taken by the Trump administration to increase its deportation program.Live EventsIn footage of the new center, migrants are seen sleeping in a heavy-duty tent with a number of cages containing bunk beds. The scene is evocative of the infamous Cecot prison in El Salvador. Hundreds of alleged members of the violent MS-13 Venezuelan gang have been sent to what is known as “hell on earth” prisons by the Trump administration, as per a report by NBC.”You have a lot of bodyguards and a lot of cops in the form of alligators,” the president said during a tour of the location with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to pay them so much, but I wouldn鈥檛 want to run through the Everglades for long,鈥 he stated.The site, 50 miles west of Miami, is expected to cost $450 million annually to operate once it is fully operational. It can accommodate up to 5,000 migrants, as per a report by NBC.However, according to Florida officials, it would house roughly 1,000 “criminal aliens,” as per a report by The Telegraph.The Florida Attorney General, James Uthmeier, and Mr. DeSantis came up with the idea for the project. They used emergency powers to build the compound, which is composed of sturdy tents and trailers.Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said the detention was necessary to hold “deranged” migrants after touring the facility, as per a report.On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump also made a joke about fugitive migrants being devoured by Florida wildlife while travelling to the official opening of a detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”When asked if the detention facility was built with the intention of ensuring that anyone who escaped would be devoured by snakes or alligators, Trump responded to reporters, “This is not a nice business. Snakes are fast, but alligators… we’re going to teach them how to run away from an alligator, okay?””If they escape prison, how to run away. Don’t run in a straight line. Run like this. And you know what? Your chances go up about one percent,” as per a report by The Telegraph.Who鈥檚 opposing this?Critics of Trump’s harsh immigration crackdown have referred to the reptile-filled Everglades swamp as inhumane.Democrats, environmentalists, and tribal leaders have all criticized the new compound, citing the cruel conditions and dangers to the local wildlife.ALSO READ: Trump鈥檚 Big, Beautiful Bill: Who wins, who loses, and what it means for your wallet (retain headline)Mr. DeSantis dismissed these worries, stating that “it’s not about the Everglades,” and that “people just don’t want to see illegals deported.”Why was it built in the Everglades?At the center of the Everglades conservation area’s vast network of mangrove forests, imposing marshes, and “rivers of grass” is the site, which is situated on an abandoned airfield.An estimated 200,000 alligators live in the Everglades National Park, making it a major habitat for these animals. However, officials have emphasized the danger by claiming that, aside from pythons and alligators, there won’t be much waiting for people if they leave. Is this a serious security measure or a political stunt?Officials in Florida and the White House have referred to it as “Alligator Alcatraz,” a reference to the former San Francisco island prison that Trump has stated he wants to reopen.The Trump administration is promoting “Alligator Alcatraz” in an effort to garner support for a massive tax and spending bill that the president is attempting to pass this week.The “One Big Beautiful Bill” includes money for Trump’s immigration crackdown, which includes more detention center beds. FAQsWhy is it known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz’?As it’s built in an alligator-infested swamp in Florida and designed to be escape-proof, much like the old island prison Alcatraz.Who is being held there?The facility is intended for undocumented migrants, including alleged gang members, but many people without criminal records have been detained.(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
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(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onAlligator AlcatrazTrump immigration policymigrant detention facilitiesEverglades migrant detention centerFlorida alligator prisonillegal immigration detentionTrump administration deportationworld鈥檚 deadliest prisonalligators and pythons Alligator Alcatrazeverglades’ alligator alcatraz(Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates….moreless
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