What is Alligator Alcatraz, and what does it look like?
Alligator Alcatraz, the immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, had a special visitor July 1 − President Donald Trump. It marked the first visit back to his home state in two months.
Championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and State Attorney General James Uthmeier, both Republicans, the state transformed the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee into Alligator Alcatraz in a quick turnaround (see below). Florida’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center was previously a 39-square-mile airport facility with a 10,500-foot runway to temporarily detain undocumented immigrants.
However, not everyone is on board with Alligator Alcatraz. Since ground broke at transforming the lone airport strip into the ICE detention center, environmental groups have protested against Alligator Alcatraz.
Some stats about Alligator Alcatraz, Florida’s ICE detention center, as of Tuesday, July 1, 2025, or “opening day:”
maximum capacity of detainees: 3,000
Alligator Alcatraz staff members: 1,000
Alligator Alcatraz security personnel: more than 400
There is a legal service on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Alligator Alcatraz has access to a clergy.
Alligator Alcatraz has a laundry service.
There is a recreation yard at Alligator Alcatraz.
Alligator Alcatraz is air-conditioned.
How long did it take to build Alligator Alcatraz: 8 days
number of security cameras: more than 200
barbed wire at Alligator Alcatraz: more than 28,000 feet
The ICE detention center hosted VIP guests for its opening day, including President Donald Trump, Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and Florida Rep. Byron Donalds.
Below are photos of Alligator Alcatraz, including a tour of what it looks like, protesters who oppose the ICE detention center in the Florida Everglades, and what the airport site could have been.
Alligator Alcatraz: Photos of ICE detention Center in Ochopee, Florida
Trump tours Alligator Alcatraz in Florida on opening day
Photos of Alligator Alcatraz protests in Florida
Alligator Alcatraz in the Florida: Historic Everglades Jetport into ICE detention center
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Alligator Alcatraz photos of ICE detention center in Ochopee, Florida
