Florida Democrats thought they could waltz right into President Trump’s new detention facility.
They were dead wrong.
And Florida Democrats got a bit of surprising news when they tried this move at “Alligator Alcatraz.”
Democrats denied access to Trump’s immigration facility
Florida’s brand-new “Alligator Alcatraz” illegal alien detention center just opened for business this week.
The facility welcomed its first group of criminal illegal aliens on Wednesday night after a grand opening ceremony attended by President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the milestone with pride.
“Alligator Alcatraz will be checking in hundreds of criminal illegal aliens tonight,” Uthmeier said. “Next stop: back to where they came from.”¹
But Florida Democrats weren’t celebrating.
State Senators Shevrin Jones and Carlos Guillermo Smith thought they could march right up to the facility and demand entry for an inspection.
The facility security had other plans.
Both Democrat legislators were turned away at the gate when they tried to gain access Thursday.
Jones, who claims 13 years of experience in the Florida Legislature, took to social media to whine about being denied entry.
“Access DENIED! Florida law gives legislators the authority to make unannounced visits to state-run facilities — to inspect conditions and check on the wellbeing of the people inside. I’ve served in the Legislature for 13 years, and this has never happened,” Jones posted.²
State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith also confirmed he was shut out.
“Today I’m visiting the so-called ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ site to exercise our legislative oversight authority, and to demand answers + accountability,” Smith said.³
He called the facility a “cruel $450 MILLION detention camp” and demanded that “corrupt pay-to-play contracts to GOP donors must be exposed.”
The Democrats’ attempt to gain access came just as the Florida Division of Emergency Management announced that the first detainees had officially arrived at the facility.
“The first group has arrived at Alligator Alcatraz,” the agency announced on its X account Thursday.⁴
Florida expands detention capacity with second facility
Governor Ron DeSantis isn’t stopping with just one detention center.
During Tuesday’s grand opening ceremony with President Trump, DeSantis revealed plans for a massive second facility at Camp Blanding in Northeast Florida.
The Camp Blanding site will hold 2,000 detainees while Alligator Alcatraz can house up to 3,000.
“Now we have a 2,000-bed facility up at Camp Blanding that we’re going to open, which is our National Guard site,” DeSantis told President Trump during their roundtable discussion.⁵
DeSantis described the Camp Blanding location as the perfect “one-stop shop” for deportations because of its proximity to an airport runway.
“They come here, say they already have been ordered to be deported, you drive them 2,000 feet to the runway, and then they’re gone,” the governor explained.
Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie said the request for proposals for the Camp Blanding project was closing Wednesday afternoon.
“Right after our wonderful Independence Day, we will be starting construction near that facility,” Guthrie announced.⁶
The Camp Blanding facility will need to meet strict state requirements in four key areas: food service support, safety, building facilities, and contractual requirements.
Both detention centers are designed to streamline the process of detaining and deporting illegal aliens from the country.
“Our goal here is to process them and be able to effectuate their return to their home country,” DeSantis said.⁷
Trump administration delivers on border security promises
The opening of Alligator Alcatraz represents a major victory for President Trump’s America First immigration agenda.
Built in just eight days in the Florida Everglades, the facility shows what can be accomplished when politicians actually want to secure the border.
This isn’t the first time Democrats have tried to interfere with legitimate immigration enforcement efforts.
For years, they’ve blocked every attempt to build detention facilities and expedite deportations of criminal illegal aliens.
Now that Trump is back in the White House and working with allies like Governor DeSantis, Democrats are finding out they can’t stop the deportation machine.
The fact that Jones claims he’s “never” been denied access to a state facility in 13 years just shows how seriously Florida is taking border security this time around.
Democrats spent four years under Biden allowing millions of illegal aliens to pour across the border.
They turned a blind eye to the fentanyl crisis, human trafficking, and gang violence that came with Biden’s open border policies.
Now they want to inspect facilities designed to clean up the mess they helped create.
Florida officials aren’t playing games anymore.
The Alligator Alcatraz facility represents the future of immigration enforcement in America.
With President Trump leading from Washington, D.C. and Governor DeSantis executing the plan in Florida, criminal illegal aliens finally have something to fear.
The message is crystal clear: if you’re in this country illegally and committing crimes, your next stop won’t be another catch-and-release program.
Your next stop will be a one-way ticket back to wherever you came from.
¹ Eric Daugherty, “’Alligator Alcatraz’ is bringing in illegals Wednesday night after grand opening,” Florida News, July 2, 2025.
² Michelle Vecerina, “Florida Democrats denied access to ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ illegal alien detention center,” Florida News, July 3, 2025.
³ Ibid.
⁴ Michelle Vecerina, “First detainees arrive at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ as Florida preps Camp Blanding DHS immigration site,” Florida News, July 3, 2025.
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ Ibid.
⁷ Ibid.
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Author: rgcory
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