President Donald Trump leaned into the humor—and the deterrent message—of the newly constructed migrant detention facility in the Florida Everglades, unofficially dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” during his Tuesday tour of the site with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

The facility, constructed by the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) in just eight days at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport inside Big Cypress National Preserve, is surrounded by snake- and alligator-infested swamps, making it a natural deterrent for would-be escapees.

When asked by reporters if the dangerous wildlife was part of the facility’s deterrence plan, Trump quipped, “I guess that’s the concept,” adding, “The snakes are fast, but alligators—we’re going to teach them how to run away from an alligator if they escape prison.” Demonstrating with side-to-side arm gestures, Trump joked, “Don’t run in a straight line. Run like this.”

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who spearheaded the facility’s creation, described the site as “ideal” because it uses Florida’s wilderness to reduce security costs while discouraging escapes. “I call it ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’” Uthmeier said, adding that the surrounding Everglades provide a natural, low-cost perimeter. “If people get out, there’s not much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons.”

During the tour, Trump emphasized the symbolic and practical significance of the facility. “This is what you need,” he said. “A lot of bodyguards and a lot of cops in the form of alligators.” Trump also joked that the site might be as effective as the original Alcatraz, the infamous maximum-security prison in San Francisco Bay.

The “Alligator Alcatraz” facility is part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration by the Trump administration, which has recently included a series of measures such as the new remittance tax in the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” efforts to speed deportations, and stricter border security initiatives in collaboration with states like Florida and Texas.

The facility has already begun receiving detainees, with migrants transferred from overcrowded urban detention centers to the isolated Everglades location. According to DHS sources, the design reduces the need for high fencing and heavy manpower, allowing the natural environment to do the work.

Critics, including some human rights groups, have called the facility inhumane, citing concerns over potential medical emergencies and the facility’s isolation. However, supporters argue that the site is a creative, cost-effective approach that enhances security while discouraging illegal border crossings.

Trump’s playful remarks underscored the seriousness of his border policies while capturing his characteristic showmanship, using humor to highlight the administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws while reducing taxpayer burdens.

As Florida ramps up the facility’s operation, “Alligator Alcatraz” is likely to remain a potent symbol in the Trump administration’s campaign to control illegal immigration, combining Florida’s rugged terrain with a no-nonsense approach to border enforcement—reminding those who cross the border illegally that even nature itself may now stand in their way.