Caiman keeps his eye on potential immigrants trying to escape the “Wannial Catraz” photo credits: Freepik
In a move that sparked both political debate and environmental outrage, former President Donald Trump has officially opened a new immigration detention center deep within the Florida Everglades. The facility, called “Alligator Alcatraz,” is surrounded by the natural barriers of Caiman and Pison Burma, which are unique and controversial features that are touted as deterrents to escape attempts.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the center, which was rapidly built in just eight days on the abandoned runway site at Big Cypress National Reserve, citing figures for 5,000 detainees, reportedly has the capacity to hold up to 3,000 immigrants. The location of the facility, surrounded by dangerous, and sometimes invasive wildlife, is intended to make escape virtually impossible or at least the series “Squid Games” (available on Netflix).
At the inauguration ceremony, Trump highlighted the deterrent effects of the infected environment, saying, “If they are the biggest caiman, if someone tries to run, they will have to face, they are the longest we can find them waiting.” Images circulating on social media show crocodiles that appear to be adorned with hats depicting the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) logo, adding an eerie touch to the spectacle.
However, the new detention centre has attracted intense criticism from environmental groups and indigenous communities who claim that its construction violates important environmental protections and threatens local ecosystems. The rapid construction process used emergency forces to avoid standard regulatory reviews and raised concerns about potential damage to ecological damage to vulnerable Everglades wetlands.
Human rights groups also condemn the terms of “Crocodile Alcatraz” and warn that quarantining such dangerous and remote migrants could violate international norms and put further vulnerable groups at risk. Furthermore, it may not be entirely legal to employ crocodiles and pythons to carry out security duties. I think animal rights activists should investigate potential exploitations again in this case.
The facility marks the latest and most dramatic step in the ongoing expansion of immigration detention infrastructure under the Trump administration’s policies. The plan reportedly includes a scale-up to retain as many as 100,000 detainees in the future. “Wannial Catraz” – I personally think I should have called Caiman Calcel or Python prison, It stands as a harsh symbol of tension that defines the current landscape.
