Florida has broken ground on a new migrant detention facility in the Everglades, a remote site that local officials have dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” due to its swampy isolation and surrounding wildlife. Designed to eventually detain up to 5,000 people, the project represents one of the largest federal immigration infrastructure undertakings in the state’s history.

Construction began on Tuesday, with early aerial footage from an NBC affiliate showing a setup of tent compounds for detainees and trailers for staff operations. The site, encircled by alligator- and python-inhabited wetlands, is being promoted by officials as naturally secure, requiring fewer traditional barriers.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed in a recent video statement that the facility could begin housing migrants within 30 to 60 days, starting with approximately 1,000 detainees.

“The site could begin operations within 30 to 60 days, initially housing around 1,000 people,” Uthmeier said.

The detention center is expected to cost $450 million annually to operate, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). With an estimated daily cost of $247 per detainee, the project significantly exceeds the national average of $165, a reflection of the logistical demands of operating in such a remote environment.

The Florida facility comes amid a wider escalation of immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s second term. According to the administration, the detention center addresses overcrowding issues linked to a surge in undocumented border crossings, which they attribute to policies from the prior administration.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) population has jumped from 39,000 at the start of Trump’s new term to 56,000 by mid-June, prompting a renewed push to increase capacity.

“The new facility is necessary following what they describe as a border crisis triggered during the previous Biden administration,” the report notes.

In a significant policy move, DHS has diverted funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help cover construction and operational costs. The redirected funds were previously used to support cities like New York in managing migrant arrivals. Critics are expected to challenge this budgetary shift as FEMA resources are traditionally reserved for natural disaster relief.

A photo from a separate federal site—Los Lagos Detention Facility in Costa Rica—recently showed U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem touring a detention cell, underscoring the global scope of U.S. immigration enforcement priorities.

Originally reported by Tovima.