Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Saturday that the agency is engaged in ongoing discussions with five Republican-led states to construct additional large-scale immigrant detention facilities modeled after Florida’s recently launched center known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
The announcement was made during Noem’s visit to Tampa, where she confirmed that unnamed Republican governors are currently in talks with federal officials to replicate the joint state-federal detention facility located in Florida’s Everglades.
“We’re looking at other locations as well,” Noem said during remarks to the press.
“We’ve had several other states that are actually using Alligator Alcatraz as a model for how they can partner with us as well.”
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The facility in Florida, opened on July 1, is a cooperative effort between the state of Florida and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
It can hold up to 3,000 detainees and is surrounded by difficult terrain and thousands of alligators in the surrounding wetlands. Officials have described the geography as a natural deterrent to escape.
President Donald Trump visited the facility on its opening day alongside Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who was the first governor to formally partner with the Trump administration on detention infrastructure expansion.
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During his remarks at the site, President Trump referenced the facility’s environmental isolation, stating, “The only escape route for migrants detained there is deportation.”
Secretary Noem emphasized that the Department of Homeland Security is looking to expand detention capacity nationwide and sees cooperative agreements with willing states as a key component of that plan.
The secretary did not publicly identify the five states currently involved in planning discussions, but confirmed that each has a Republican governor and that formal announcements regarding new sites would be made in the near future.
“As you all know, we need to double our capacity and detention beds because we need to facilitate getting people out of this country as fast as possible and to sustain our operations,” she reiterated.
Secretary Noem also issued a public challenge to Democratic governors, urging them to consider working with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement measures.
While she praised the engagement from Republican governors, she noted that no Democratic-led states had expressed interest in participating.
“Those governors have been fantastic. I will tell you, they are all Republicans,” Noem said.
“So I would challenge some Democrats to start taking care of your states, partner with us.”
🚨 BREAKING: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has just revealed 5 MORE “ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ” facilities may be coming soon.
YES, build these nationwide. They are using Florida as a model.
“I’m having ongoing conversations with five other governors about facilities that they may have.”… pic.twitter.com/0K0Jh4ABlq
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 12, 2025
The “Alligator Alcatraz” facility has received both national attention and scrutiny due to its unique location in the Florida Everglades.
The heavily monitored and secured site is outfitted with surveillance and enforcement infrastructure and was developed as part of broader efforts under the Trump administration to strengthen immigration enforcement and speed up detention and removal processes.
No additional details were provided on timelines or site selection criteria for the new facilities under discussion.
DHS has not released formal agreements or site plans, but officials have indicated that several states are in advanced stages of negotiation.
The Department of Homeland Security continues to coordinate with ICE and the Department of Justice on the enforcement of federal immigration laws and the implementation of expanded detention operations.
Further announcements regarding the expansion of detention infrastructure are expected in the coming weeks.
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