Washington, July 27: The Trump administration is offering $608 million in federal funding to states willing to construct or expand migrant detention facilities modeled after Florida’s rapidly built “Alligator Alcatraz” camp, according to a new grant program announced this week.
The funding is being distributed through the Detention Support Grant Program (DEP), part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Shelter and Services Program, and is aimed at accelerating the development of temporary, secure migrant camps on state or local land.
The Florida facility, located on remote land in the Everglades at Dade-Collier Airport, was constructed in just eight days and can hold up to 3,000 migrants. Surrounded by fencing and swampland, the site has drawn attention for its rapid deployment and natural security barriers.
“We’re surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland, and the only way out is really deportation,” President Donald Trump said during a July 1 visit, praising the facility as “a model we’d like to see in many states.”
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem said five states are already in discussions with the department about replicating Florida’s detention model. “Alligator Alcatraz can be a blueprint,” a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Noem has criticized federal contractors as slow and expensive, encouraging states to take a more hands-on approach. “They were willing to build it and do it much quicker than some of the other vendors,” she said.
Florida officials have confirmed they are seeking FEMA reimbursement for the camp’s estimated $450 million annual operating cost, saying the facility qualifies under new federal guidelines.
The funding offer comes as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aims to double its detention capacity. ICE reported over 56,000 migrants in custody as of June, the highest figure since 2019, and is targeting 100,000 detention beds by the end of the year, according to DHS planning materials.
FEMA, in partnership with Customs and Border Protection, will oversee the distribution of the funds. Applications for the DEP grant are open through August 8.
