Alligators, And Pythons, And Illegals, Oh Joy!
I have lived in Florida for most of my life and love it. As someone who grew up in Pittsburgh, Florida was a place I never wanted to be. My parents vacationed here while I was growing up, and while I loved the beaches (what kid doesn’t), the state as a whole didn’t appeal to me.
After getting out of college, circumstances arose that caused me to rethink living in the Sunshine State. After moving here, I gave myself a six-month window. If I didn’t like it, I would move back up north. That was a long time ago, and I’m still here. The weather is excellent, there’s no state income tax, there’s lots of water and beaches, and IMHO, I think we have the best governor in the country.
Like many conservative governors, DeSantis doesn’t rest on his laurels. He took on Disney and won. He is outspoken about his beliefs and appoints people who can do the job. Too many conservatives understand what the right thing to do is, and they talk about doing it, but they never get around to doing it.
James Uthmeier, one of DeSantis’ appointments, recently made headlines. On January 16, 2025, DeSantis announced his intention to appoint Attorney General Ashley Moody to the United States Senate, succeeding Marco Rubio. He also stated that he would appoint Uthmeier to take over as Attorney General if Moody’s position were to become vacant.
On February 17, 2025, Uthmeier was sworn in as the 39th Attorney General of Florida. He is the youngest attorney general since Robert L. Shevin and the first from the Florida Panhandle since James W. Kynes.
On February 25, 2025, he filed paperwork to run for a full term in 2026. The following day, Uthmeier unveiled a new seal for the Office of the Florida Attorney General, referencing the “Free State of Florida.”
Since the beginning of Trump’s term, DeSantis has fully supported efforts to secure the borders by targeting illegal immigration. One notable operation took place in Tallahassee on May 29th, where over 100 illegal immigrants were arrested by ICE at a construction site. Additionally, between April 21st and 26th, Florida conducted the largest joint immigration operation in state history, resulting in 1,120 arrests, including individuals connected to violent foreign terrorist organizations.
“Florida has been leading on immigration enforcement, supporting the Trump administration and ICE’s effort to detain and deport criminal aliens,” Uthmeier stated.
Now, Uthmeier believes he may have a solution to another issue plaguing the immigration problem. Rather than having taxpayers pay for hotels, shelters, and expensive detention centers, he has recommended building what he is referring to as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
Uthmeier describes the location as “an old, virtually abandoned airport facility right in the middle of the Everglades.”
The facility is located on 39 square miles of land, approximately 50 miles west of Miami. It includes the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, which has mostly been abandoned but can accommodate up to 1,000 illegal aliens while they await deportation.
Uthmeier added:
“The massive plot of land offers an efficient, low-cost opportunity to build a temporary detention facility because you don’t need to invest that much in the perimeter.”
Similar to Alcatraz, which is surrounded by cold, wind-whipped waters with dangerous currents, Florida’s equivalent comes with natural security guards: the thousands of alligators and massive pythons that inhabit the swampy waters and sawgrass of the Everglades.
Another crucial point is that it could be built and running in 30 to 60 days.
As the White House raises the daily arrest quota to 3,000 illegal immigrants, the need for more space becomes urgent. “Alligator Alcatraz” provides a practical solution to this increasing challenge.
ICE detention centers across the country are overwhelmed, currently housing approximately 53,000 illegal aliens, significantly exceeding the 41,500 beds funded by Congress.
Uthmeier’s practical approach demonstrates the benefits of states taking initiative instead of merely complaining. By repurposing an abandoned facility and allowing nature to contribute to security, Florida has established a model that other states can emulate.
He told John Roberts of Fox News that “We’re going to continue to detain and deport. We’ve got thousands of arrests underway. We’re going to enforce the law.”
The plan seems to have few flaws. This type of aggressive but logical thinking is exactly what the country needs to overcome the problems created by the Biden administration. The Everglades provide a “sanctuary” for Florida wildlife, but I don’t think those detained there will see it that way.
