Donald Trump has sparked outrage once again — this time with a quip about migrants being eaten by alligators if they dare escape a new detention centre dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz”.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a visit to the Florida facility, Trump was asked if the setup really implied detainees would be left to the mercy of Everglades predators.
“I guess that’s the concept,” he said. “This is not a nice business.”
🛠️ A prison built at breakneck speed
The centre, reportedly approved by the Florida state government and the Department of Homeland Security, has gone up in just weeks. It’s set to house up to 5,000 people — and it’s located smack in the middle of the alligator-filled Everglades.
Trump couldn’t resist a joke, even as experts sounded alarm bells. “Snakes are fast but alligators — we’re going to teach them how to run away from an alligator,” he told reporters, before doing a zigzag motion with his hands. “Don’t run in a straight line. You know what, your chances go up about 1%.”
🧍♀️ Protesters line the highways
Environmentalists, Indigenous leaders and immigration campaigners are outraged by both the location and the message behind the project. Demonstrators lined highways on Tuesday morning as Trump made his visit.
“We don’t want this prison here,” said protester Phyllis Andrews. “There’s no reason for it.”
Kailani Osceola, another protester, slammed the plan: “They’re gonna hurt the habitat, the animals — and we’re just fighting for the immigrants.”
📣 A cruel stunt, or serious policy?
The White House has yet to confirm whether Trump’s “Alligator Alcatraz” quip was policy or parody. But critics warn that with 5,000 beds and a remote, hostile setting, it’s no laughing matter — especially for those trapped inside.
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