Trump Offers $608 Million to States to Replicate ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

The Trump administration has announced a $608 million funding offer to states willing to expand migrant detention facilities.

This initiative is part of a new program by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) called the Detention Support Grant Program (DEP).

The funding aims to help states build or enlarge temporary detention centers modeled after Florida’s facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”

According to FEMA documents, the program seeks to fast-track construction of these secure, temporary detention sites on state or local government land. This approach intends to bypass lengthy federal procurement delays typically seen in construction projects.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has promoted the Florida facility as a blueprint for other states. A DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Noem has been clear that Alligator Alcatraz’s design could be replicated to assist state and local governments in managing migrant detention.

The grant program is part of FEMA’s broader Shelter and Services Program and applications are open through August 8, as per FEMA’s official announcement. States interested in expanding detention capacity can apply for this funding.

President Donald Trump visited the Alligator Alcatraz facility on July 1, praising it as “so professional” and “so well done.”

He called the facility “a model we’d like to see in many states” due to its secure design and strategic location, per Fox News.

The facility itself was constructed in just eight days on remote land within the Florida Everglades, specifically near Dade-Collier Airport. It can house up to 3,000 migrants and is surrounded by fencing, swamp, and other natural barriers that make escape difficult.

During his visit, Trump emphasized that the treacherous surrounding swamp acts as a natural deterrent, stating, “We’re surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland, and the only way out is really deportation.”

Secretary Noem has expressed criticism of traditional federal contractors for being slow and costly. She encouraged governors to take a more direct role in building detention infrastructure, highlighting Florida’s swift construction timeline as an example of efficiency.

“They were willing to build it and do it much quicker than some of the other vendors,” Noem said. She believes this approach offers a practical solution that can be replicated elsewhere if needed.

Florida officials have confirmed they are seeking FEMA reimbursement to cover the camp’s estimated $450 million annual operating costs. They maintain the site meets federal funding criteria under the new grant program guidelines.

Noem also revealed that five other states are currently in discussions with DHS to create similar detention centers modeled after Alligator Alcatraz.

“We’ve had several other states that are actually using Alligator Alcatraz as a model for how they can partner with us,” Noem stated during a recent briefing.

She expressed hope that many governors will follow Florida’s lead, saying, “I hope my phone rings off the hook from governors calling and saying, ‘How can we do what Florida just did?’”

The funding announcement coincides with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts to double migrant detention capacity nationwide. ICE reported holding more than 56,000 migrants in custody as of June, the highest number since 2019.

According to DHS planning materials, ICE is targeting to reach 100,000 detention beds by the end of the year to manage increasing migrant flows.

FEMA will distribute the funds in partnership with Customs and Border Protection, according to the DHS posting about the new program.

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