
How did Alligator Alcatraz emerge in the Everglades? See what unfolded
These articles discuss the development and impact of "Alligator Alcatraz," a migrant detention facility in the Everglades.
In pursuit of immigration enforcement, the DeSantis administration quickly seized Everglades land to construct the center. A fleet of trucks transported crucial equipment into the sensitive area. Meanwhile, environmentalists sued to prevent the facility from operating, citing potential ecological damage.
See the stories below.
No image found FILE -- The Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida, in December 2019. Florida is building a detention facility for migrants nicknamed 'Alligator Alcatraz,' turning an abandoned airport in the Everglades into the newest local prison designed to help the Trump administration carry out its immigration crackdown. (Erik Freeland/The New York Times) By ERIK FREELAND
NO. 1: FLORIDA SEIZES EVERGLADES LAND TO HOUSE DETAINED MIGRANTS IN 'ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ'
The detention center represents a new, expanded front in the harsh optics deployed to dissuade migrants from entering the United States. | Published June 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ana Ceballos Syra Ortiz Blanes Alex Harris Doug Hanks
No image found Ochopee, Fla., June 22, 2025 - Frame grab from video of the construction of 'Alligator Alcatraz' at Dade Collier Training and Transition Airport off Tamiami Trail . MUST CREDIT: Courtesy NBC 6 / TELEMUNDO 51
NO. 2: 'ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ' RISES IN THE EVERGLADES. SEE NEW IMMIGRATION DETENTION CAMP
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration plan to open the 1,000-bed facility the first week of July in the state's latest move to increase immigration enforcement. | Published June 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Devoun Cetoute
No image found Organizer Betty Osceola speaks to protesters outside of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport during the 'Stop Alligator Alcatraz' protest in opposition to the construction of a massive detention facility for undocumented immigrants on the site, which is in the middle of the Florida Everglades, in Ochopee, Florida, on Saturday June 28, 2025. By Pedro Portal
NO. 3: PROTESTS CONTINUE OVER THE CONSTRUCTION OF 'ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ' IN THE EVERGLADES
Dozens of trucks carrying supplies could be seen going in and out of the facility on Saturday as protesters waved their signs towards them. | Published June 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Pedro Portal Milena Malaver
No image found A tribe member blesses protesters outside of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport during the 'Stop Alligator Alcatraz' protest in opposition to the construction of a massive detention facility for undocumented immigrants on the site, which is in the middle of the Florida Everglades, in Ochopee, Florida, on Saturday June 28, 2025. By Pedro Portal
NO. 4: FAA ISSUES ALERT NEAR 'ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ' IN THE EVERGLADES. IS TRUMP VISITING?
The VIP movement notification was set for Tuesday for Ochopee, Florida, the site of 'Alligator Alcatraz.' | Published June 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Grethel Aguila
Ochopee, Florida, June 28, 2025 - Protesters rally near Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport where a migrant detention center is being built. The center, which is being called 'Alligator Alcatraz,' is in the middle of the Everglades. Protesters argue the detention center could damage the fragile ecosystem of the area. By Photo by Pedro Portal
NO. 5: DETENTION CENTER DRIVING OUT WILDLIFE, DAMAGING EVERGLADES, CRITICS CONTEND
'The Everglades deserves more, which is why we're in court.' | Published July 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Harris
Aerial view of structures including gigantic tents built at the recently opened migrant detention center, 'Alligator Alcatraz,' located at the site of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee, Florida on Friday July 04, 2025. By Pedro Portal
NO. 6: GIANT BUGS, HEAT AND A HOSPITAL VISIT: INSIDE ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ'S FIRST DAYS
Concerns about conditions for detainees were heightened when one was rushed out of the detention center Monday in an ambulance. | Published July 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ana Ceballos Alex Harris Claire Healy
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

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Politico
2 hours ago
- Politico
Who lobbies for each side of the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand
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Over the weekend, President Donald Trump had announced a pause on trade negotiations with both countries pending resolution of the conflict — a threat that endangered both countries' efforts to avoid being hit with steep tariffs at the end of the week. — The 'immediate and unconditional' ceasefire, if it holds, would bring to an end what The New York Times reports was the deadliest clash between the Southeast Asian neighbors in decades and lead to resumed trade talks — a priority that has pushed both sides to seek out new lobbying help in Washington. — The Cambodian Embassy in March inked a 15-month contract with Don Benton, a former Washington State legislator who worked on Trump's first transition team, according to DOJ filings. The Vogel Group's Matt Keelen has also been working with Benton as an independent contractor, according to DOJ filings. — For a monthly fee of $38,000, Benton's firm, National Consulting Services, aims to 'position the Kingdom of Cambodia as a strong friend to the United States without damaging the Kingdom's good relationship and friendship with China,' filings show. — Among the firm's goals are the growth of the Congressional Cambodia Caucus, a future CODEL to Cambodia, and working to 'refute any claims that may harm the Kingdom's image or trading status.' Throughout the spring, NCS circulated fact sheets on who provides foreign aid to Cambodia, the structure of the Cambodian government and where Cambodian Americans are concentrated throughout the U.S. — Meanwhile in April, the embassy tapped Qorvis, which has provided PR services to boost Cambodia's travel and tourism industries since 2021, to offer a crash course on U.S. diplomacy and messaging, DOJ filings show. — One training was set to focus on the Trump administration, while others were to focus on members of Congress, committees and staffers; U.S. media and online platforms; and think tanks and academia, per disclosure filings. — The embassy has also worked with a team of more than a dozen lobbyists at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld since 2022, DOJ filings show. — The filings show the firm helped coordinate a trade mission by Cambodia's deputy prime minister to San Francisco last fall, worked to facilitate a call between Trump and Cambodia's prime minister following the election and set up a meeting with the office of Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) in May when Cambodian officials were in town for trade talks with the Trump administration. — The arsenal of lobbyists working for the Cambodian government in Washington dwarfs the Thai government's representation in the U.S. Thailand maintains tourism promotion offices in New York and Los Angeles, while the country's Civil Aviation Authority registered a pair of lobbyists earlier this year to coordinate with U.S. officials on events like the 2034 Olympics, according to filings. — Apart from that, Thailand's government has no outside representation in D.C., according to a PI review of disclosure filings. That appears likely to change, however. After facing pressure from Thai business leaders earlier this year, Thai Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira announced last month that the government had hired lobbyists in the U.S. to help advise Thailand in trade negotiations, according to a local news outlet. PI has yet to see any registrations, though, and the Thai Embassy did not respond to a request for more information. Happy Monday and welcome to PI. Were you hired by the Thai Embassy or do you have any leads on who was? Drop me a line. Add me on Signal at caitlinoprysko.17, email me at coprysko@ and be sure to follow me on X: @caitlinoprysko. DANS WITH THE ONES WHO BROUGHT YA: 'A chief architect of Project 2025, Paul Dans, is launching a Republican primary challenge to Sen. Lindsey Graham in South Carolina, joining a crowded field that will test the loyalties of President Donald Trump and his MAGA movement in next year's midterm election,' The Associated Press' Lisa Mascaro and Meg Kinnard report. — 'Dans told The Associated Press the Trump administration's federal workforce reductions and cuts to federal programs are what he had hoped for in drafting Project 2025. But he said there's 'more work to do,' particularly in the Senate.' — 'Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to Graham's campaign who co-managed Trump's 2024 bid, predicted in a statement to the AP that Dans' campaign would 'end prematurely,'' and referenced Dans' departure from the Heritage Foundation at the height of the blowback against the think tank's policy blueprint. WHO'S GETTING THIEL BUCKS: 'Peter Thiel's vacation from politics is over,' per Business Insider's Bryan Metzger. 'The conservative tech billionaire made his first publicly disclosed political contribution in two and a half years in February, giving $852,200 to House Speaker Mike Johnson's joint fundraising committee. That group, called 'Grow the Majority,' then distributed almost 90% of that money to other campaigns.' — 'All told, Thiel's money has now made its way into the coffers of the Republican National Committee, House Republicans' main campaign arm, over a dozen state parties, and nearly 30 GOP House members. 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PENTA-GONE: 'A wide swath of Defense Department officials fear that new rules banning employees from participating at think tank and research events — a key way the Pentagon delivers its message and solicits feedback — will leave the military muzzled and further isolated from allies,' POLITICO's Jack Detsch, Paul McLeary and Felicia Schwartz report. — 'The move, according to more than a dozen officials and think tank leaders, hampers the department's ability to make its case both in Washington policy circles and to allies struggling to understand how they fit into President Donald Trump's worldview. That's particularly important now as the Pentagon assesses whether to end decades of U.S. policy and remove thousands of troops stationed abroad.' Jobs report — DeFi Education Fund is adding Ayana Dow as senior counsel and Talia Davis as vice president of government relations. 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Siddiqui was previously director of state and local government affairs at Amex. — Darin Guries is joining the Futures Industry Association in September as its new head of U.S. government affairs. Guries has worked as a vice president of federal government relations for JPMorgan Chase for the last several years. — Daniella Gibbs Léger is joining SquadBuck Consulting as a partner. She most recently was executive vice president for comms and strategy at the Center for American Progress. — Juven Jacob is now principal of his own practice, Juven Capitol Strategies. He previously was a senior adviser at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. — Jennifer Kuskowski is now senior vice president of government affairs and public policy at Edwards Lifesciences. She previously was a vice president and head of government affairs for the Americas at Siemens Healthineers. — Rachel Tripp is now senior director of communications at America First Policy Institute. She previously was vice president of media relations at Alliance Defending Freedom. New Joint Fundraisers Hurd Victory Fund (Rep. Jeff Hurd, Colorado Western Political Action Committee, NRCC) New Politics Hellcats (Cait for New York, Mendoza for Congress, Rebecca Bennett for Congress, Maura Sullivan for Congress) New PACs Christ First for America PAC (Super PAC) Conservative Reform Fund (Super PAC) M Visionaries PAC (PAC) PROGRESS & PROSPERITY PAC INC. (Super PAC) With Us (Hybrid PAC) New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS Adams And Reese, LLP: Bauducco Foods, Inc. 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Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Miami Herald
FEMA to distribute $680 million to states to build migrant detention facilities
Over the past month, as the Trump administration has intensified its immigration crackdown, it has called on states to take a more active role in assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement by building temporary facilities to hold detained migrants. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will now distribute $680 million to states and local governments through a new 'Detention Support Grant Program' for the construction of new migrant detention facilities. 'This will relieve overcrowding in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's short-term holding facilities, further the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's immigration enforcement plans,' the description of the program states. The detention grant program is launching almost a month after the opening of Alligator Alcatraz, the state-run migrant detention facility in the Florida Everglades. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida is the leading example of a state cooperating with the federal government to detain undocumented immigrants The Everglades facility is estimated to cost Florida taxpayers $450 million and is capable of holding up to 3,000 to 5,000 detainees, according to FEMA. Contracts and purchase orders in the Florida Accountability Contract Tracking System show the state has already committed to spending more than $200 million with private contractors. FEMA has said the state can request reimbursement from the agency's $650 million Shelter and Service program fund. The program was established under the Biden administration to award grants to state, local and non-profit organizations that provide services to immigrants released from ICE custody. DeSantis said Friday the state will begin requesting reimbursement from the federal government. Despite complaints from detainees and their lawyers about unsanitary conditions such as clogged toilets, limited showers, and high temperatures, DeSantis has called Alligator Alcatraz a blueprint for temporary detention that other states can follow. The Florida Division of Emergency Management, which oversees the facility, did not respond to requests for comments on whether the state has filed for reimbursement from the federal government and if the state plans to apply for grants from the new program. The new detention grant program requires recipients not to use the funds to construct new permanent facilities, nor can they be used for the transportation of detained migrants between detention centers. It can only be used for 'the costs of sheltering aliens in a detained environment.' An environmental impact assessment is also required. Environmentalists and critics of Alligator Alcatraz have voiced concerns about the bright lights and new constructions, such as the roadway, disturbing the Everglades ecosystem. In June, environmental groups filed a lawsuit accusing the state and federal governments of failing to adhere to environmental regulations under the National Environmental Policy Act. The DeSantis administration has said it plans to build several detention sites similar to Alligator Alcatraz to hold undocumented immigrants. DeSantis has suggested a Clay County training site known as 'Camp Blanding' could be the next location for an immigration detention center. FEMA did not respond to a request for comments on whether the new program funds differed from those of the shelter program. It is also unclear whether there will be a limit on the amount each state is awarded. States and local governments have until early August to apply for the program.


New York Times
6 hours ago
- New York Times
The Short-Lived Plan to Produce a Trump-Themed Instant Pot
Like most appliances, the Instant Pot used to keep quiet about its politics. But recently, it went all-in for President Trump. In June, a lobbyist for the countertop cooker announced a new line of devices emblazoned with Mr. Trump's slogan 'Make America Great Again.' The lobbyist said other manufacturers owned by the same private-equity firm would also make Trump-themed products: snow globes, dinner plates, flatware, bedsheets. The companies would donate all proceeds to the fund to build Mr. Trump's presidential library. It looked like a page out of a new political playbook. The New York-based private equity firm, Centre Lane Partners, wanted the Trump administration's help with tariffs and a looming antitrust inquiry, according to lobbying filings and interviews with people on Capitol Hill. To get it, the firm's lobbyist augmented the usual backroom meetings with newly popular tactics in Mr. Trump's second term: over-the-top public flattery of the president and gifts to his cause. In this case, it backfired. The lobbyist announced the merchandise — complete with mock-ups of a wee Mr. Trump inside a snow globe — without seeking the Trump Organization's permission to use its trademarks or offering to give the president's company a cut. After The New York Times asked the Trump Organization about these plans, the company's lawyers moved quickly to stop them. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.