A new deportation center, nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz", has opened in the remote Everglades in Florida. The camp was officially set up on the grounds of Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport and can accommodate up to 5,000 migrants. It is located in the middle of a region known for its dense swamps, alligators and pythons. The authorities are deliberately using the inaccessible surroundings as a natural barrier to prevent escape attempts. Former President Donald Trump recently visited the site with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and made his usual provocative comments. He joked that alligators were the best guards and that migrants would learn to "run away from crocodiles".
The project is triggering massive protests from human rights organizations, environmental groups and indigenous communities. Critics warn of inhumane conditions, psychological stress for the inmates and irreversible damage to the sensitive ecosystem of the Everglades. The Miccosukee and Seminole tribes in particular fear the destruction of sacred sites and cultural habitats. Several organizations have already filed lawsuits to enforce a comprehensive environmental assessment and a public hearing.
Political supporters of the camp see it as a quick solution to deal with the increasing number of arrests by the US immigration authorities ICE. In future, the site is to serve as a central collection point for migrants who are to be deported. However, trade unions and churches are warning of a moral and humanitarian step backwards. They describe the camp as a symbol of a policy of deterrence and exclusion. While similar projects are already being considered in other US states, the dispute over "Alligator Alcatraz" in Florida continues to escalate.
