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Tag: Alligator Alcatraz
September 4, 2025
William Upton
Breaking

BREAKING: Federal Appeals Court Reverses ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Closure.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has moved to block an order by U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams that would have closed a Florida illegal immigration detention facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams, the State of Florida, and the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Thursday, September 4, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The 11th Circuit not only blocked Judge Williams’ order to close Alligator Alcatraz, but they blocked her from proceeding with the case until the appeal is complete.” — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier

🎯IMPACT: The administration may restart operations at “Alligator Alcatraz” in light of the ruling.

IN FULL

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has moved to block an order by Barack Obama-appointed U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams that would have closed a Florida illegal immigration detention facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” In addition to staying Judge Williams’s preliminary injunction that would have closed the Everglades-based facility, the appellate court further barred the District Court from proceeding further with the case, as its initial ruling is being appealed.

“The State and Federal Defendants have filed motions to stay that injunction pending appeal. After careful consideration, we GRANT the Defendants’ motions, and we STAY the preliminary injunction and the underlying case itself pending appeal,” Judge Barbara Lagoa wrote for the three-judge appellate panel.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, responding to the ruling, stated: “The 11th Circuit not only blocked Judge Williams’ order to close Alligator Alcatraz, but they blocked her from proceeding with the case until the appeal is complete.”

Following Judge Williams’s initial ruling and injunction, the Trump White House had signalled it would wind down operations at “Alligator Alcatraz” and instead move detainees to other facilities, including another located in northern Florida, along with detention centers in Indiana, Nebraska, and Louisiana. It is unclear whether the administration will now restart operations at “Alligator Alcatraz” in light of the Eleventh Circuit ruling.

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September 4, 2025
Immigration

Trump Opens Another Deportation Center at Notorious ‘Angola’ Prison.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal immigration detention facility is set to open at the Louisiana State Penitentiary to accommodate illegal immigrants detained under President Donald J. Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (R), Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and federal authorities.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced on September 3, 2025, at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as “Angola.”

💬KEY QUOTE: “This facility is designed to hold criminal illegal aliens, the worst of the worst,” said Gov. Landry.

🎯IMPACT: The facility aims to deter illegal immigration and house up to 400 detainees, adding to the over 60,000 already in detention.

IN FULL

A new federal immigration detention facility is set to open on the grounds of the notorious Louisiana State Penitentiary, commonly known as “Angola.” The facility, dubbed the “Louisiana Lockup” by the Trump administration, has already received 51 detainees and is projected to reach its 400-person capacity in the coming months, according to Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (R).

Speaking with the media on Wednesday, Landry explained that the facility will be used to detain “the worst of the worst” and house the “most violent offenders” in “a single deportation and holding facility.” He added, “If you don’t think that they belong in somewhere like this, you’ve got a problem.”

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted the facility’s “legendary” reputation, but acknowledged that the detained illegal immigrants would be kept separate from the prison’s general population. According to Noem, the detention wing of the facility will be operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contractors and house “high-risk” illegal immigrants, including those with prior convictions for murder, sexual assault, and child pornography.

At a press conference, Noem emphasized the consequences for those who commit serious crimes and are in the country illegally, warning, “You’re going to end up here.”

The Trump administration has been collaborating with state and local authorities, as well as the private prison industry, to expand detention capacity for migrants awaiting deportation. This initiative includes similar facilities in Nebraska, Indiana, and Florida, often given alliterative names, with the Sunshine State’s “Alligator Alcatraz” being the most famous.

The establishment of the Angola facility follows a Barack Obama-appointed judge’s ruling that blocked further detainees from being sent to “Alligator Alcatraz.”

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August 19, 2025
William Upton
Immigration

Trump Opens ANOTHER Deportation Facility, Dubbed the ‘Cornhusker Clink.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is set to open its fourth new illegal immigrant detention and deportation facility modeled on Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), illegal immigrants, and the Department of Corrections Work Ethic Camp in McCook, Nebraska.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The “Cornhusker Clink” was revealed on August 19, in McCook, Nebraska.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Any sanctuary Jurisdiction that continues to put illegal aliens ahead of American citizens can either come to the table or see us in court.” — U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi

🎯IMPACT: The expansion of illegal immigrant detention capacity comes as President Donald J. Trump continues to push his administration to ramp up mass deportations.

IN FULL

The Trump administration is set to open its fourth new illegal immigrant detention and deportation facility modeled on Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz,” repurposing the Department of Corrections Work Ethic Camp in McCook, Nebraska. Dubbed the “Cornhusker Clink,” the facility will be able to house 280 criminal illegal immigrants awaiting deportation and will be overseen by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Aside from the Trump administration’s flagship “Alligator Alcatraz” facility located in the Florida Everglades, an additional three new facilities have been opened or announced in recent weeks—including the “Deportation Depot” located at the shuttered Baker Correctional Institution in Sanderson, Florida, and the “Speedway Slammer” utilizing part of the Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, Indiana.

The expansion of illegal immigrant detention capacity comes as President Donald J. Trump continues to push his administration to ramp up mass deportations and undo the four years of unchecked mass migration under former President Joe Biden. Late last week, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that 32 letters had been sent out to sanctuary jurisdictions nationwide, giving them a week to comply with federal immigration laws or face action from the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“Any sanctuary Jurisdiction that continues to put illegal aliens ahead of American citizens can either come to the table or see us in court,” she warned, adding: “Today, the Justice Department delivered demand letters to sanctuary cities, countries, and states—a key step in our strategic effort to eradicate sanctuary policies from California to New York.”

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August 15, 2025
Immigration

Another Major Deportation Facility Is Opening in Florida.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) announced the opening of a new immigration detention center, “Deportation Depot,” at a former prison in Sanderson, Florida.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor DeSantis, Florida National Guard, and state contractors; detainees and state and local law enforcement in collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The facility, located at Baker Correctional Institution near Jacksonville, is expected to begin operations within two to three weeks.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’ll enforce the law, we’ll hold the line, and we will keep delivering results.” – Ron DeSantis

🎯IMPACT: The facility will expand Florida’s capacity to detain and deport migrants, supporting federal immigration enforcement efforts.

IN FULL

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has revealed plans for a new immigration detention center, “Deportation Depot,” at the shuttered Baker Correctional Institution in Sanderson, Florida. The facility, located about 43 miles west of Jacksonville, will initially house 1,300 beds with capacity to expand to 2,000. This move builds on the state’s existing efforts to enforce federal immigration laws by establishing facilities such as “Alligator Alcatraz,” which President Donald J. Trump inspected in person earlier this year.

“There’s a massive part here at Baker Correctional that’s vacant and isn’t being used for any state correction activity,” DeSantis stated during a press briefing. He emphasized the cost-effectiveness of repurposing the dormant prison, estimating a $6 million build-out cost compared to the hundreds of millions spent on facilities in southern Florida’s Everglades. The site is expected to be operational within two to three weeks and will be staffed by the Florida National Guard and state contractors.

The new facility comes amid efforts to deport tens of thousands of illegal immigrants in Florida with final orders of removal. DeSantis highlighted the state’s collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through the 287(g) program, allowing state and local law enforcement to assist in immigration enforcement. “We have done more on this than any other state by a country mile,” he remarked.

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July 11, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Revealed: Dangerous, Criminal Pasts of Migrants at ‘Alligator Alcatraz.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New details from the Florida Attorney General’s office reveal that migrants awaiting deportation at the “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center include those convicted of serious crimes such as murder, rape, and organized crime.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Florida Attorney General’s office, Communications Director Jeremy Redfern, several convicted criminals awaiting deportation, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The detention facility, known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” opened earlier this month in the Everglades, Florida.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ which is very appropriate, because I looked outside, and that’s not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon.” — President Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: The facility is housing dangerous migrants, including murderers and gang members, who are bound for deportation.

IN FULL

Florida officials have disclosed the criminal histories of several migrants currently held at a new state-run detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” The information, released by the office of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, outlines the serious offenses committed by several individuals awaiting deportation.

“The left-wing press continues to spend their time amplifying false reports, but the reality is that there are monsters awaiting deportation within Alligator Alcatraz far worse than the monsters lurking in the surrounding Everglades,” said a spokesman for Uthmeier.

Among those detained is Lazaro Rodriguez Santana, a Cuban national who was convicted in Texas for sexual assault and for failing to register as a sex offender. Jose Fortin, a citizen of Honduras, was found guilty of second-degree murder in Miami-Dade County. Another Honduran detainee, Oscar “Satan” Sanchez, reportedly affiliated with the notoriously violent MS-13 gang, was convicted in New York of conspiracy to commit murder, assault, and charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

Other individuals include Guatemalan national Luis Donald Corado, who was convicted of burglary and voyeurism, and Wilfredo Alberto Lazama-Garcia of Venezuela, wanted in his home country for murder and robbery, and convicted in the U.S. for conspiracy to defraud the federal government.

Particularly disturbing is the case of Eddy Lopez Jemot, a Cuban national with convictions for murder, arson, and assault. According to authorities, Jemot slit an elderly woman’s throat in Key Largo, Florida, and set her home ablaze. He also reportedly later threatened to behead another woman.

“Alligator Alcatraz,” located in Florida and opened earlier this month, is backed by the state government and expected to utilize repurposed Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding. President Donald J. Trump recently toured the facility and remarked, “It’s known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ which is very appropriate, because I looked outside, and that’s not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon.” He added, “But very soon, this facility will have some of the most menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet.”

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July 1, 2025
Immigration

Trump: Biden’s NYC Migrant Hotel Funding was Diverted to Build ‘Alligator Alcatraz.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced the opening of a new illegal immigrant detention facility, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” in the Florida Everglades.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Florida officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made Tuesday during a roundtable discussion following a tour of the Miami-Dade Collier Training Facility in the Florida Everglades.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s known as Alligator Alcatraz, which is very appropriate because I looked outside, and that’s not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon,” said President Trump.

🎯IMPACT: The facility is expected to begin processing, detaining, and deporting illegal immigrants immediately, with some reportedly self-deporting already.

IN FULL

The Trump administration used Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) money allocated by the Biden government to house illegal immigrants in luxury hotels in New York City to construct “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Florida Everglades, President Donald J. Trump said Tuesday during a roundtable discussion after touring the facility.

Trump toured the existing Miami-Dade Collier Training Facility, which has, in just eight days, been transformed into a detention center designed to process, detain, and deport illegal immigrants, alongside Florida Governor and former Republican primary rival Ron DeSantis.

“It’s a great honor to be deep in Florida—the Florida Everglades—to open America’s newest migrant detention center, incredibly built, and you’re seeing that yourself,” Trump said. “That’s why I said, let the press join us on our walk so they can see what’s happening. It’s known as Alligator Alcatraz, which is very appropriate because I looked outside, and that’s not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon,” the President joked.

“But very soon, this facility will house some of the most menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet,” he continued. “We’re surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland, and the only way out is really deportation. And a lot of these people are self-deporting back to their country where they came from,” Trump said.

“Quite a few were amazed at actually the number we took the FEMA money that Joe Biden allocated to pay for the free luxury hotel rooms, where he’s paying hundreds of millions of dollars in New York City, and we used it to build this project,” Trump told reporters. “And Ron [DeSantis], it was just a little fraction of that money—the money they spent on that project,” he added.

Despite a bruising primary campaign against DeSantis, the President said he now rates his relationship with the Florida Governor as “a 10, maybe a 9.9 because there might be a couple of little wounds.”

Addressing DeSantis directly, he said, “You’re my friend and you’ll always be my friend. We may even have some skirmishes in the future. I doubt it, but we’ll always come back because we have blood that seems to match pretty well.”

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June 30, 2025
Immigration

Trump and DeSantis Are Going on a Trip Together. Here’s Where, and Why…

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump will join Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) on Tuesday to tour a new illegal immigrant detention center at the Miami-Dade Collier Training Facility, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Ron DeSantis, President Donald J. Trump, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The facility is located in the Everglades and is expected to be operational this week. President Trump is scheduled to attend the opening.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The security is amazing … natural and otherwise.” – Ron DeSantis

🎯IMPACT: The facility aims to streamline the deportation process and support the federal government’s immigration enforcement efforts.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump will travel to Florida on Tuesday to join Governor Ron DeSantis (R) for the opening of a new illegal immigration detention center at the Miami-Dade Collier Training Facility, also known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” The facility, approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is located in the middle of the Everglades and intended for use in detaining illegal immigrants. DeSantis emphasized its logistical simplicity and natural security features, including alligators and pythons.

“People say there are training flights that go in there, but it’s a massive runway. And, you know … there’s not a lot of buildings out there, but there’s a lot of concrete. And so these guys set up this whole thing within a matter of days,” DeSantis said. He added that the facility is “not defunct” and highlighted its natural barriers, which make it difficult for detainees to escape: “The security is amazing … natural and otherwise.”

DeSantis explained that the facility will help expedite the deportation process. “You literally drive them to 2,000 feet, put them on a plane, and then they’re gone. It’s very logistically simple,” he said. The existing runway allows the federal government to fly detainees out of the country directly from the site.

The White House announced on Monday that President Trump will join DeSantis for the opening of the facility. According to the Florida governor,  he spoke with President Trump over the weekend, stating that the America First leader is “very excited about doing it.” DeSantis has noted that Florida is assisting the federal government in fulfilling the voters’ mandate on immigration enforcement, saying, “We literally are doing what the voters who elected all of us have been demanding for many, many years.”

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