Alligator Alcatraz opens a day before detained immigrants are expected to arrive

Florida opened a new immigration detention center in the Everglades on Tuesday. But no detainees are being held there just yet.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state plans to do a security sweep of the facility to make sure that there are no materials that could be used as weapons. Once those are done, detainees will be able to be housed inside.

“Hopefully by tomorrow,” the governor said while touring the detention facility on Tuesday with President Donald Trump and Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

Noem agreed that detainees could start being processed by Wednesday.

The facility, which is built from heavy-duty tents and trailers, will have the ability to process detainees on site, the governor said. Officials say the site will be able to hold as many as 3,000 people. DeSantis has said some of the detainees may be coming from local jails.

“I think the capacity that will be added there will help the overall national mission. It will also relieve some burdens of our state and local” law enforcement, DeSantis said last week.

This story was originally published July 1, 2025 at 4:06 PM.