'Alligator Alcatraz' immigrant detention facility opens, with Trump in attendance

Immigration Policy & Detention Facility - The administration is embracing the new migrant detention facility in Florida, dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," as a symbol of its immigration crackdown [1] - The facility is located in the Florida Everglades, raising environmental and humanitarian concerns [1] - The facility aims to house nearly 3,000 people at a cost of almost $450 million per year [5] - Governor Ronda Santis and his attorney general James Um were significant drivers of the project, forming a partnership between DHS and the state [5] - The administration officials are publicly portraying the facility as a form of deterrence, which could pose legal problems under the Immigration Nationality Act [6][7] Legal & Oversight Concerns - Immigration detention is legally intended for detaining immigrants with pending asylum cases or deportation orders, not as punishment [7] - Immigration advocates are concerned that the facility will not be subject to the same oversight as ICE facilities, especially given ICE's dismantling of its oversight office [9] - Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit challenging the facility's location in the Everglades, citing potential negative impacts on the sensitive ecosystem [10][12] Controversial Statements & Potential Actions - President Trump suggested deporting people born in the United States who commit crimes, a statement lacking legal basis [13][14] - The idea of using alligators for border security, initially dismissed as a pipe dream, has materialized in the form of the Everglades detention facility [16]