Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said on Thursday that deportation flights containing illegal aliens housed at the “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center in the central part of the state have begun and are “increasing in cadence,” adding that he expects the frequency of flights to rise.
Speaking at the facility, which is located on a previously unused former airport, DeSantis said that operations are proceeding smoothly and in accordance with federal immigration officials with the Department of Homeland Security, which is taking the lead.
“Hundreds of illegals have been removed from here,” DeSantis announced. “This airport is able to accept commercial-sized aircraft, and both conduct day and nighttime operations. That’s what it’s all about. To be able to process and remove folks that are illegally in the state of Florida and the United States of America.”
PLAY:
? BREAKING: Alligator Alcatraz deportation flights HAVE OFFICIALLY BEGUN, and the "cadence is increasing," Governor Ron DeSantis announces.
"Hundreds of illegals have been removed from here."
It's located on an airport runway…SO convenient.
Walk them right from their cell… pic.twitter.com/GIQ08c6UPW
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 25, 2025
DeSantis has dismissed criticism over the facility, saying at an event in Marco Island that it poses no threat to the Everglades. He also brushed off concerns from Collier County officials about the fast-tracked construction of the migrant detention center near the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, stating he’s not worried about local objections, according to Florida Politics.
“This is an existing airport. It’s an existing concrete. They’re not doing anything outside of a footprint they show, and they have a lot of great plans for how to handle everything that happens. And so that’s just not an issue,” DeSantis said.
