The United States government has begun air deportations of irregular migrants from Alligator Alcatraz, and has been doing so for several days.
Thus announced this Friday from the detention center was the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, who reported the commencement of flights and the increased pace of expulsions, although he did not provide specific numbers or detailed information.
“I am pleased to report that those flights from ‘Alligator Alcatraz’, on behalf of the DHS, have begun. The pace is increasing. We have already had a number of flights in the past few days, we have removed hundreds of illegal immigrants from here,” said DeSantis, who did not specify even which day the first flight took place.
DeSantis emphasized that the center allows expulsions to be carried out more effectively.
“The federal government follows an established procedure to carry out these deportations […] but the reality is that this new infrastructure allows us to enhance our mission, increase the number and frequency of expulsions, and operate more effectively,” he indicated.
According to DeSantis:
"The airfield is equipped with air communications, radar capabilities for flight tracking, enhanced security at all access points to the runway and taxiway, as well as 5,000 gallons of fuel available on-site. It also has adequate lighting for night operations."
And he emphasized: “This airport has the capability to accommodate commercial-sized aircraft and conduct operations both day and night.”
Although the governor did not specify the nationality of those deported or exactly how many flights have left from the center, he recalled that the Trump Administration ordered the expulsion of approximately 800,000 people; of whom between 50,000 and 75,000 resided in Florida.
National Guard and immigration judges on the ground
In his speech today, DeSantis also spoke about the participation of the National Guard in the deportation process, who would be acting as immigration judges to expedite the procedures.
This measure was approved by Donald Trump during his visit to the facility in early July.
"In fact, one of the things the president approved during his visit was the deployment of additional officers, including members of the National Guard, to support this mission," the governor noted.
Cuban presence and recent transfers
According to various local sources, a significant proportion of the migrants detained in Alligator Alcatraz are of Cuban nationality. Specifically, it was revealed that more than half were from Cuba, Mexico, and Guatemala.
However, a recent news report indicated that some of them had been transferred to other immigration detention centers, which has raised uncertainty about their legal status and final destination.
Infrastructure of the center and operational capacity
The detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz was opened on July 1 in an abandoned airstrip west of Miami.
According to the director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), Kevin Guthrie, its initial capacity is 2,000 detainees, with projections to expand to 4,000. The infrastructure is designed to support a constant logistical operation. Protests, criticisms, and local scrutiny.
The operation of the center has sparked a wave of criticism. Just days after its opening, dozens of activists and families of migrants protested outside the facility, describing it as a "concentration camp" and a "dog cage."
They reported that, since its inauguration, at least six people have required hospitalization, while there are already more than 1,000 detainees in custody.
In response to these reports, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava sent a letter to FDEM demanding access to "conduct inspections and monitor any operations," following allegations of "inhumane" and "dangerous" conditions inside the center.
Florida and Trump's immigration agenda
Ron DeSantis has turned Florida into a laboratory for conservative immigration policy.
During his speech, he emphasized that the state has managed to prevent the arrival of more than 18,000 migrants by sea and has established agreements for all counties to actively cooperate with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“The overall purpose is to transform this into a place that can facilitate an increase in the frequency and number of deportations of illegal foreigners, and that is the goal. One of the reasons this is an essential location is because you have this airstrip right here,” concluded DeSantis.
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