Florida officials are staying silent as activists report construction at an abandoned airstrip in Big Cypress National Preserve, part of Governor Ron DeSantis’ plan to build a tent-based detention facility for up to 1,000 immigrants.

Nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” the site is being funded with FEMA money, drawing criticism for using hurricane relief funds.

Critics, including former Homeland Security Secretary Alex Howard, have condemned the project as cruel political theater with an estimated $450 million annual cost, arguing it prioritizes spectacle over humane immigration solutions, the DW has reported.

Written by B.C. Begley