First illegal immigrant group arrives at 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention center in Florida Everglades

"Next stop: back to where they came from," Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said of the illegal immigrants at "Alligator Alcatraz"

By Natalia Mittelstadt

Published: July 3, 2025 5:15pm

The first illegal immigrant group has arrived at the new "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center in the Florida Everglades.

Jae Williams, press secretary for Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (R), told The Associated Press on Wednesday that "people are there," but didn’t provide further details on the number of detainees or when they arrived.

Uthmeier posted on X: "Alligator Alcatraz will be checking in hundreds of criminal illegal aliens tonight. Next stop: back to where they came from."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued an emergency order to repurpose the old Dade-Collier Training Airport into what the Trump administration has informally called "Alligator Alcatraz," an immigration detention center that will be able to hold up to 5,000 people.

The center, which U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is to oversee, was built in eight days and has more than 200 security cameras, 28,000-plus feet of barbed wire, and 400 security personnel.

Trump visited the center on Tuesday with DeSantis, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla.