Trump Mocks Migrants at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’: “We’ll Teach Them How to Run From a Gator”

• Trump Mocks Migrants
• Visits Alligator Alcatraz Prison
• Protests Over Environmental Impact

U.S. President Donald Trump stirred controversy this Tuesday by mocking migrants who will be sent to the new detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” located in Florida, during off-the-cuff remarks to the press.

“We’re going to teach them how to run from a gator. Don’t run in a straight line—run like this,” said Trump to reporters before departing for Florida from the White House, making zig-zag gestures with his hand to illustrate the supposed escape technique.

The scene was captured on video and sparked immediate reactions due to the mocking tone of the president, who smiled while describing the situation the detainees would face in the new immigration center.

“Your chances (of escaping) go up about 1%,” Trump added, flashing a slight grin, making it clear his comment was intended to be humorous, though many found it cruel and dehumanizing.

Trump Escalates Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric

The president traveled this Tuesday accompanied by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, in a visit highlighting the close political ties between the federal government and state authorities.

Trump was scheduled to arrive around 10:00 a.m. local time (2:00 p.m. GMT) and remain until midday, touring the newly built facilities designed to house thousands of migrants.

The new detention center was built in just two weeks on the grounds of an abandoned airport west of Miami. According to DeSantis, it will begin operating immediately with a capacity for up to 5,000 people.

The speed with which the infrastructure was erected has been one of the main points of criticism from activists and experts, who warn about the lack of environmental impact studies and potential violations of wetland protection laws.

“Alligator Alcatraz” takes its name in reference both to the iconic San Francisco prison, which Trump has ordered to reopen soon, and to the abundant presence of alligators in the area, which authorities claim will serve as “natural deterrents” to prevent escapes.

The Department of Homeland Security fueled the controversy last Saturday by posting an image on social network X showing several alligators wearing ICE hats next to what appeared to be an improvised prison.

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The official message seemed to treat the presence of reptiles near the center humorously, but it drew criticism from human rights organizations, who accused the government of using fear tactics and dehumanizing migrants.

The facility is located in a high-value natural area, with wetlands rich in wildlife and vegetation that are part of the Everglades ecosystem, raising alarm among environmental groups.

These groups have denounced that the center’s accelerated construction is incompatible with environmental protection, emphasizing that it lies only a few dozen kilometers from Everglades National Park, one of the world’s most significant wetlands.

In response, a protest has been called for today near the detention center, coinciding with Trump’s visit and that of his officials, to demand the facility’s closure and to denounce the inhumane treatment of migrants.

Meanwhile, the White House defended the measure as part of a “firm” immigration control policy, assuring that “adequate conditions” will be guaranteed for detainees, despite criticism over the improvised camp and the potentially dangerous surroundings.

The Trump administration has ramped up its anti-immigration efforts ahead of the elections, making border security one of the cornerstones of its campaign and highlighting symbolic actions like the creation of “Alligator Alcatraz.”

The debate is intensifying in Florida, a key state for the president’s political aspirations, where both he and DeSantis seek to solidify support among sectors calling for stricter immigration policies.

The image of the president joking about how migrants should escape from an alligator has become a new symbol of the harshness—and for some, the cruelty—of the anti-immigrant rhetoric that defines the presidential campaign.

What do you think of Trump’s remarks and the opening of the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ center?

SOURCE: EFE