Deportations have begun from the newly constructed detention center in the Florida Everglades, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” which is being used to process and remove illegal immigrants from the country.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced at a press conference last week that the Department of Homeland Security has initiated deportation flights from the site, which was built on an airplane runway. The facility is designed to streamline the removal process and is operated by DHS.
“I’m pleased to report that those flights out of Alligator Alcatraz by DHS have begun. The cadence is increasing,” DeSantis said. “We’ve already had a number of flights in the last few days,” he added, also noting that “hundreds of illegals have been removed from here.”
“This provides an ability to enhance the mission to increase the number and frequency of deportations,” he added.
DeSantis described the remote facility as an efficient solution that allows deportations to happen with increased speed and scale. He described it as a “sensible spot” for a detention center.
“You don’t have to drive them an hour to the airport, you only have to go a couple thousand feet and they can be on a plane and out of here,” he explained, according to The Daily Wire.
Other officials have applauded the isolated location for its ability to deter individuals who are detained from trying to escape. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that the facility is “isolated, and surrounded by dangerous wildlife in unforgiving terrain.”
The launch of deportation flights from the site aligns with the ongoing priorities of the Trump administration to accelerate the removal of illegal immigrants. DHS has recently received a significant funding increase for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, following the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
