President Donald Trump hinted at a drastic new target during a swamp-side tour, suggesting that American criminals born on U.S. soil could face the same fate as detained migrants. His remarks left many wondering whether constitutional protections might be tested.
According to Daily Mail, Trump spoke at a newly christened “Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility in the Florida Everglades. He mused that home-grown offenders might soon join migrants in the high‐security camp.
Trump has floated deporting U.S. citizens convicted of crimes before, including a proposal in April to ship them to an El Salvadorian prison. Yet courts have consistently ruled that birthright citizenship bars such removal, suggesting his latest comments may be more political theatre than policy.
While touring the remote compound, Trump told reporters, “We also have a lot of bad people that have been here for a long time. Some of them were born in our country.” He paused, then added, “I think we ought to get them the hell out of here too, if you want to know the truth. So maybe that’ll be the next job.”
His suggestion represents a significant escalation from past rhetoric aimed solely at noncitizen offenders. Earlier this year, he proposed sending American convicts to a notorious prison in El Salvador, but offered few details on how to navigate legal barriers.
Administration aides describe Trump’s comments as an extension of his hard‐line stance on law and order. They say he hopes to underscore the facility’s power as both a deterrent and a demonstration of his commitment to public safety.
Nestled in the heart of the Everglades swamp, the temporary center sits roughly 37 miles from Miami and is ringed by dense vegetation, snakes and alligators. Officials tout its natural defenses as a virtually escape-proof perimeter.
“It is not a place I want to go hiking any time soon,” Trump quipped as he surveyed the site. “Very soon this facility will house some of the most menacing migrants, the most vicious people on the planet. We’re surrounded by miles of swamp land and the only way out is deportation.”
Trump revealed plans for additional sites, saying Florida would get a second camp “and probably a couple more,” with several more envisioned in other states. He likened the design to a modern Alcatraz, praising its longevity and isolation.
Democrats quickly condemned the site as a makeshift prison camp unfit for any detainees. They argue that the tent-and-trailer complex violates human rights norms and risks exacerbating tensions along the southern border.
Environmental advocates voiced alarm over potential harm to fragile wetlands, while Native American leaders staged protests, decrying the seizure of sacred land without proper consultation. They warn that the facility could damage culturally significant sites.
Built in just seven days at an annual cost of $450 million, the camp can hold up to 3,000 inmates but consists solely of tents and trailers. The land was taken from Miami-Dade County after state authorities overrode local objections.
President Trump, alongside Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, plans to monitor the facility’s operations closely as detainees arrive. He insists the center will serve as both a deterrent and a detention hub.
Located at the former Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, the camp’s adjacent 11,000-foot runway offers a rapid deportation route. DeSantis has said it could be used to fly undocumented immigrants to third countries when removal is ordered.
Opponents have vowed legal challenges, with lawsuits expected over citizenship rights, environmental impact, and land seizures. Meanwhile, Trump’s administration is reviewing proposals for similar sites nationwide as part of its broader immigration enforcement strategy.
