Politics
WATCH: Reporter Stunned By Gator ‘Guarding’ Trump’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detention Center
A Washington Examiner reporter highlighted how much Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” lives up to its name, as at least one gator could be seen just off the side of the road leading into the facility.
President Donald Trump and senior members of his administration traveled to the Sunshine State on Tuesday in order to tour the new illegal alien detention facility, which is located on a defunct airstrip in the heart of Florida’s everglades. The unique, swampy ecosystem is home to thousands of alligators, crocodiles, venomous snakes, invasive pythons and more, something Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described as a massive deterrent similar to the infamous Alcatraz facility in San Francisco.
“We’re offering up our National Guard and other folks in Florida to be deputized to be immigration judges. We’re working with the Department of Justice for the approvals. I’m sure Pam will approve. But then you have, I’ll have a National Guard judge advocate here,” DeSantis said while flanked by President Trump.
“Someone has a notice to appear. Biden would tell them to come back in three years and appear. Now you’ll be able to appear in like a day or two, so they’re not going to be detained hopefully for all that long. We’ll have people here in this facility that can make, you know, it’s a bureaucracy.”
Anna Giaritelli, a reporter for the Washington Examiner, was on the ground to cover the grand opening of the new detention facility at the former Dade-Collier Airport. In one clip, Giaritelli highlighted just how many alligators are surrounding the facility after she encountered one just outside.
“There really are alligators out here just feet from the road by ‘Alligator Alcatraz,'” the reporter wrote in an X post alongside a video of a small alligator.
There really are alligators out here just feet from the road by ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ #ice #everglades https://t.co/zaOkwRqKqI pic.twitter.com/pvDXe8hB0y
— Anna Giaritelli (@Anna_Giaritelli) June 30, 2025
The Florida Everglades have the distinction of being the one ecosystem in the world that is home to both crocodiles and alligators. Estimates suggest there are approximately 200,000 alligators in the Everglades, in addition to about 2,000 crocodiles, venomous cottonmouths and invasive Burmese pythons that have wreaked havoc on local wildlife populations.
While speaking with Fox News on Friday, DeSantis described the new Everglades facility as a “one-stop shop” for detaining, processing and deporting undocumented migrants. When completed, it will hold up to 5,000 beds.
“This is going to be a force multiplier,” the governor said, “and we’re happy to work with the federal government to satisfy President Trump’s mandate.”