Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed talks with five additional states to replicate Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention model. The Florida-based facility, developed in coordination with state and federal authorities, has sparked both praise and criticism amid the growing debate over immigration enforcement and interstate cooperation.

MIAMI, FL (TDR) — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said over the weekend that her agency is in discussions with five other states to replicate Florida’s controversial migrant detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” marking a potential expansion of the program as border-state governors seek tougher enforcement tools.

The announcement comes after what Noem described as a “successful partnership” between the federal government and Florida, where the Miami-Dade Collier Training Facility was converted into a detention and deportation center located deep in the Everglades.

“We’ve had several other states that are actually using Alligator Alcatraz as a model for how they can partner with us,” Noem said.

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Though she did not name the participating states, discussions signal a broader shift toward state-federal collaboration on immigration detention—an issue that remains politically charged in Washington and across local communities.

Facility Details and Political Pushback

Supporters of the facility have countered criticism from national media outlets and civil liberties groups by highlighting the center’s conditions. Officials say the 158,000-square-foot structure includes “24/7 air conditioning, a medical clinic, recreational yards, laundry services, and clergy support.”

Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie emphasized the facility’s structural durability:

“It was constructed with an aluminum frame rated for 110 mph winds—what we’d consider a high-end Category 2 hurricane.”

WATCH: Kevin Guthrie outlines specs of Alligator Alcatraz

– Aluminum frame structure rated for 110MPH winds, Cat 2 hurricane
– 158,000 SQ FT of housing
– Fully redundant power supply with backup generators
– 3 times a day hot meals
– Staff village with capacity of 1,000
– 24/7… pic.twitter.com/HTbFDXtgXn

— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) July 1, 2025

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Guthrie also confirmed that Alligator Alcatraz includes on-site staff housing for up to 1,000 personnel and backup generators to maintain operations during storms.

Still, critics argue the project lacks transparency and opens the door to human rights violations. Immigration advocacy groups have demanded federal oversight, claiming that detainees could be subjected to extended detention without due process.

Voluntary Departure and Targeted Detention

Governor Ron DeSantis and DHS officials have insisted that detainees held at Alligator Alcatraz include only the most violent or high-risk individuals.

“We’re talking about MS-13 members, murder suspects, and violent repeat offenders,” a DHS official told Fox News, which obtained a sample list of inmates that included a Cuban national convicted of cutting an elderly woman’s throat in Key Largo.

DeSantis also underscored detainees’ option to self-deport:

“Right when you do the intake, they’re informed about voluntary departure. They can opt out of detention and return on their own terms.”

President Trump, who visited the site alongside DeSantis, echoed that sentiment, calling the project a “model of what immigration enforcement should look like in this country.”

As immigration remains a flashpoint in American politics, will more states follow Florida’s lead? Tell us what you think in the comments.

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