Washington — President Trump on Tuesday plans to visit a new immigration detention center in South Florida that state officials are calling “Alligator Alcatraz,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the Tuesday visit, saying DeSantis, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Republican Rep. Bryon Donalds of Florida will also attend.
The controversial detention facility is at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Florida Everglades, and has its own runway. DeSantis said the site has been modified “within a matter of days” to also function as a detention center, and he expects the site to be operational Tuesday.
“When the president comes tomorrow, he’s going to be able to see,” DeSantis told reporters in a press conference in Florida on Monday. The Florida governor said he spoke with the president over the weekend, and Mr. Trump is “very excited” to visit.
DeSantis called the center an “effective way” to increase the numbers of removals and deportations of unauthorized immigrants as the state seeks to help the federal government’s deportation efforts.
The facility will have up to 5,000 beds to house, process and deport individuals in the country illegally, the Trump administration said.
“There is only one road leading in and the only way out is a one-way flight,” Leavitt said. “It is isolated, and surrounded by dangerous wildlife in unforgiving terrain.”
“They ain’t going anywhere once they’re there, unless you want them to go somewhere,” DeSantis said Monday. “Because good luck getting to civilization. So the security is amazing — natural and otherwise.”
Last week, environmental groups filed a lawsuit to block the opening of the facility until it undergoes an environmental review as required by federal law.