Trump tours 'Alligator Alcatraz' in deportation push
The facility sits some 60km from Miami in a vast subtropical wetland teeming with alligators, crocodiles and pythons, fearsome imagery the White House has leveraged to show its determination to purge migrants it says were wrongly allowed to stay in the country under former President Joe Biden's administration.
Trump raved about the facility's quick construction as he scanned rows of dozens of empty bunk beds enclosed in cages and warned about the threatening conditions surrounding the facility.
"I looked outside and that's not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon," Trump said on Tuesday at a roundtable event after his tour. "We're surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland and the only way out is really deportation."
The complex in southern Florida at the Miami-Dade Collier Training and Transition Airport is estimated to cost $US450 million annually and could house some 5,000 people, officials estimate. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has said he will send 100 National Guard troops there and that people could start arriving at the facility as soon as Wednesday.
In promoting the opening of the facility, US officials posted on social media images of alligators wearing Immigration and Customs Enforcement hats.
The Florida Republican Party is selling gator-themed clothing and drink holders. Two environmental groups filed a legal motion last week seeking to block further construction of the detention site, saying it violated federal, state and local environmental laws.
The lawsuit, filed in US district court, said construction will lead to traffic, artificial light and the use of large power generators, all of which would "significantly impact" the environment.
The groups, Friends of the Everglades and Center for Biological Diversity, said the site is located at or near the Big Cypress National Preserve, a protected area that is a habitat for endangered Florida panthers and other animals.
The Republican-controlled US Senate voted on Tuesday to pass a bill that adds tens of billions of dollars for immigration enforcement alongside several of the president's other tax-and-spending plans.
Trump has lobbied fiercely to have the bill passed before the July 4 Independence Day holiday, and the measure still needs a final sign-off from the House of Representatives.
The Republican president, who maintains a home in Florida, has for a decade made hardline border policies central to his political agenda. One in eight 2024 US election voters said immigration was the most important issue.
But Trump's campaign pledges to deport as many as one million people per year have run up against protests by the affected communities, legal challenges, employer demands for cheap labour and a funding crunch for a government running chronic deficits.
Lawyers for some of the detained migrants have challenged the legality of the deportations and criticised the conditions in temporary detention facilities.
The numbers in federal immigration detention have risen sharply to 56,000 by June 15, from 39,000 when Trump took office, government data show, and his administration has pushed to find more space.
The White House has said the detentions are a necessary public safety measure, and some of the detained migrants have criminal records, though US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention statistics also show an eight-fold increase in arrests of people charged only with immigration violations.
Trump has spoken admiringly of vast, isolated prisons built by El Salvador and his administration has held some migrants at the Guantanamo Bay naval base, in Cuba, best known for housing foreign terrorism suspects following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
US halts some missile shipments to Ukraine
The Pentagon has halted some shipments of air defence missiles and other precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns that US stockpiles are too low, two people familiar with the decision says. The slowing of some weapons shipments promised to Kyiv by former President Joe Biden's administration came in recent days, they said, adding that air defence interceptors to help knock down Russian drones and projectiles were among the items delayed. Russia has intensified air attacks on Ukraine's cities in recent weeks, on several nights launching hundreds of drones and missiles at a time, leading to widespread damage and an increase in civilian casualties. Since US President Donald Trump took office in January, he has softened Washington's position towards Russia, seeking a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine and raising doubts about future US military support for Kyiv's war effort. Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of the Ukrainian parliament's national security and defence committee, called the decision to halt the shipments "very unpleasant for us". "It's painful, and against the background of the terrorist attacks which Russia commits against Ukraine, it's a very unpleasant situation," Venislavskyi told reporters on Wednesday. However, last week Trump said he was considering selling more Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine following a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Russia, which already controls about a fifth of Ukraine, has been preparing a summer ground offensive, advancing gradually in the eastern region of Donetsk and northeastern region of Sumy. Ukraine was already experiencing a shortage of 155mm ammunition used for artillery on the front lines, said one Ukrainian defence source, calling the shortages and news of delays in US supplies "all quite sad". "At the same time, the department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving US forces' readiness for administration defence priorities," said Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary for policy. All weapons aid was briefly paused in February with a second, longer pause in March. The Trump administration resumed sending the last of the aid approved under Biden. No new policy has been announced. Politico reported the pause on Tuesday. The Pentagon has halted some shipments of air defence missiles and other precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns that US stockpiles are too low, two people familiar with the decision says. The slowing of some weapons shipments promised to Kyiv by former President Joe Biden's administration came in recent days, they said, adding that air defence interceptors to help knock down Russian drones and projectiles were among the items delayed. Russia has intensified air attacks on Ukraine's cities in recent weeks, on several nights launching hundreds of drones and missiles at a time, leading to widespread damage and an increase in civilian casualties. Since US President Donald Trump took office in January, he has softened Washington's position towards Russia, seeking a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine and raising doubts about future US military support for Kyiv's war effort. Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of the Ukrainian parliament's national security and defence committee, called the decision to halt the shipments "very unpleasant for us". "It's painful, and against the background of the terrorist attacks which Russia commits against Ukraine, it's a very unpleasant situation," Venislavskyi told reporters on Wednesday. However, last week Trump said he was considering selling more Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine following a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Russia, which already controls about a fifth of Ukraine, has been preparing a summer ground offensive, advancing gradually in the eastern region of Donetsk and northeastern region of Sumy. Ukraine was already experiencing a shortage of 155mm ammunition used for artillery on the front lines, said one Ukrainian defence source, calling the shortages and news of delays in US supplies "all quite sad". "At the same time, the department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving US forces' readiness for administration defence priorities," said Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary for policy. All weapons aid was briefly paused in February with a second, longer pause in March. The Trump administration resumed sending the last of the aid approved under Biden. No new policy has been announced. Politico reported the pause on Tuesday. The Pentagon has halted some shipments of air defence missiles and other precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns that US stockpiles are too low, two people familiar with the decision says. The slowing of some weapons shipments promised to Kyiv by former President Joe Biden's administration came in recent days, they said, adding that air defence interceptors to help knock down Russian drones and projectiles were among the items delayed. Russia has intensified air attacks on Ukraine's cities in recent weeks, on several nights launching hundreds of drones and missiles at a time, leading to widespread damage and an increase in civilian casualties. Since US President Donald Trump took office in January, he has softened Washington's position towards Russia, seeking a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine and raising doubts about future US military support for Kyiv's war effort. Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of the Ukrainian parliament's national security and defence committee, called the decision to halt the shipments "very unpleasant for us". "It's painful, and against the background of the terrorist attacks which Russia commits against Ukraine, it's a very unpleasant situation," Venislavskyi told reporters on Wednesday. However, last week Trump said he was considering selling more Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine following a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Russia, which already controls about a fifth of Ukraine, has been preparing a summer ground offensive, advancing gradually in the eastern region of Donetsk and northeastern region of Sumy. Ukraine was already experiencing a shortage of 155mm ammunition used for artillery on the front lines, said one Ukrainian defence source, calling the shortages and news of delays in US supplies "all quite sad". "At the same time, the department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving US forces' readiness for administration defence priorities," said Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary for policy. All weapons aid was briefly paused in February with a second, longer pause in March. The Trump administration resumed sending the last of the aid approved under Biden. No new policy has been announced. Politico reported the pause on Tuesday. The Pentagon has halted some shipments of air defence missiles and other precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns that US stockpiles are too low, two people familiar with the decision says. The slowing of some weapons shipments promised to Kyiv by former President Joe Biden's administration came in recent days, they said, adding that air defence interceptors to help knock down Russian drones and projectiles were among the items delayed. Russia has intensified air attacks on Ukraine's cities in recent weeks, on several nights launching hundreds of drones and missiles at a time, leading to widespread damage and an increase in civilian casualties. Since US President Donald Trump took office in January, he has softened Washington's position towards Russia, seeking a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine and raising doubts about future US military support for Kyiv's war effort. Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of the Ukrainian parliament's national security and defence committee, called the decision to halt the shipments "very unpleasant for us". "It's painful, and against the background of the terrorist attacks which Russia commits against Ukraine, it's a very unpleasant situation," Venislavskyi told reporters on Wednesday. However, last week Trump said he was considering selling more Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine following a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Russia, which already controls about a fifth of Ukraine, has been preparing a summer ground offensive, advancing gradually in the eastern region of Donetsk and northeastern region of Sumy. Ukraine was already experiencing a shortage of 155mm ammunition used for artillery on the front lines, said one Ukrainian defence source, calling the shortages and news of delays in US supplies "all quite sad". "At the same time, the department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving US forces' readiness for administration defence priorities," said Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary for policy. All weapons aid was briefly paused in February with a second, longer pause in March. The Trump administration resumed sending the last of the aid approved under Biden. No new policy has been announced. Politico reported the pause on Tuesday.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Hamas ready for ceasefire but it must end war in Gaza
Hamas suggests it's open to a ceasefire agreement with Israel but is stopping short of accepting a US-backed proposal announced by President Donald Trump hours earlier, insisting on its longstanding position that any deal bring an end to the war in Gaza. Trump said on Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. The US leader has increased pressure on Israel and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war. Trump said the 60 days would be used to work towards ending the war, something Israel says it will not accept until Hamas is defeated. He said a deal might come together as soon as next week. But Hamas's response, which emphasised its demand that the war end, raised questions about whether the latest offer could become an actual pause in fighting. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said the militant group was "ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement". Hamas was "ready to accept any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war". A Hamas delegation is expected to meet Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the proposal. Throughout the nearly 21-month-long war, ceasefire talks have faltered repeatedly over whether the war should end as part of any deal. Hamas has said it is willing to free the remaining 50 hostages, fewer than half of whom are said to be alive, in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war. Israel says it will agree to end the war only if Hamas surrenders, disarms and exiles itself, something the group refuses to do. An Israeli official said the latest proposal calls for a 60-day deal that would include a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a surge in humanitarian aid to the territory. The mediators and the US would provide assurances about talks on an end to the war, but Israel was not committing to that as part of the latest proposal, the official said. It was not clear how many hostages would be freed as part of the agreement, but previous proposals have called for the release of about 10. Israel has yet to comment publicly on Trump's announcement. On Monday, Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House, days after Ron Dermer, a senior Netanyahu adviser, held discussions with top US officials about Gaza, Iran and other matters. On Tuesday, Trump wrote on social media that Israel had "agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War". "I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better - IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE," he said. Even before the expiration of the war's longest ceasefire in March, Trump has repeatedly issued dramatic ultimatums to pressure Hamas to agree to longer pauses in the fighting that would include the release of more hostages and a return of more aid to Gaza's civilian populace. Still, Trump views the current moment as a potential turning point in the brutal conflict that has left more than 56,000 dead in the Palestinian territory. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. The war has left the Palestinian territory in ruins and has sparked a humanitarian crisis, pushing hundreds of thousands of people towards hunger. Hamas suggests it's open to a ceasefire agreement with Israel but is stopping short of accepting a US-backed proposal announced by President Donald Trump hours earlier, insisting on its longstanding position that any deal bring an end to the war in Gaza. Trump said on Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. The US leader has increased pressure on Israel and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war. Trump said the 60 days would be used to work towards ending the war, something Israel says it will not accept until Hamas is defeated. He said a deal might come together as soon as next week. But Hamas's response, which emphasised its demand that the war end, raised questions about whether the latest offer could become an actual pause in fighting. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said the militant group was "ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement". Hamas was "ready to accept any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war". A Hamas delegation is expected to meet Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the proposal. Throughout the nearly 21-month-long war, ceasefire talks have faltered repeatedly over whether the war should end as part of any deal. Hamas has said it is willing to free the remaining 50 hostages, fewer than half of whom are said to be alive, in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war. Israel says it will agree to end the war only if Hamas surrenders, disarms and exiles itself, something the group refuses to do. An Israeli official said the latest proposal calls for a 60-day deal that would include a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a surge in humanitarian aid to the territory. The mediators and the US would provide assurances about talks on an end to the war, but Israel was not committing to that as part of the latest proposal, the official said. It was not clear how many hostages would be freed as part of the agreement, but previous proposals have called for the release of about 10. Israel has yet to comment publicly on Trump's announcement. On Monday, Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House, days after Ron Dermer, a senior Netanyahu adviser, held discussions with top US officials about Gaza, Iran and other matters. On Tuesday, Trump wrote on social media that Israel had "agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War". "I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better - IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE," he said. Even before the expiration of the war's longest ceasefire in March, Trump has repeatedly issued dramatic ultimatums to pressure Hamas to agree to longer pauses in the fighting that would include the release of more hostages and a return of more aid to Gaza's civilian populace. Still, Trump views the current moment as a potential turning point in the brutal conflict that has left more than 56,000 dead in the Palestinian territory. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. The war has left the Palestinian territory in ruins and has sparked a humanitarian crisis, pushing hundreds of thousands of people towards hunger. Hamas suggests it's open to a ceasefire agreement with Israel but is stopping short of accepting a US-backed proposal announced by President Donald Trump hours earlier, insisting on its longstanding position that any deal bring an end to the war in Gaza. Trump said on Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. The US leader has increased pressure on Israel and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war. Trump said the 60 days would be used to work towards ending the war, something Israel says it will not accept until Hamas is defeated. He said a deal might come together as soon as next week. But Hamas's response, which emphasised its demand that the war end, raised questions about whether the latest offer could become an actual pause in fighting. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said the militant group was "ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement". Hamas was "ready to accept any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war". A Hamas delegation is expected to meet Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the proposal. Throughout the nearly 21-month-long war, ceasefire talks have faltered repeatedly over whether the war should end as part of any deal. Hamas has said it is willing to free the remaining 50 hostages, fewer than half of whom are said to be alive, in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war. Israel says it will agree to end the war only if Hamas surrenders, disarms and exiles itself, something the group refuses to do. An Israeli official said the latest proposal calls for a 60-day deal that would include a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a surge in humanitarian aid to the territory. The mediators and the US would provide assurances about talks on an end to the war, but Israel was not committing to that as part of the latest proposal, the official said. It was not clear how many hostages would be freed as part of the agreement, but previous proposals have called for the release of about 10. Israel has yet to comment publicly on Trump's announcement. On Monday, Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House, days after Ron Dermer, a senior Netanyahu adviser, held discussions with top US officials about Gaza, Iran and other matters. On Tuesday, Trump wrote on social media that Israel had "agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War". "I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better - IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE," he said. Even before the expiration of the war's longest ceasefire in March, Trump has repeatedly issued dramatic ultimatums to pressure Hamas to agree to longer pauses in the fighting that would include the release of more hostages and a return of more aid to Gaza's civilian populace. Still, Trump views the current moment as a potential turning point in the brutal conflict that has left more than 56,000 dead in the Palestinian territory. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. The war has left the Palestinian territory in ruins and has sparked a humanitarian crisis, pushing hundreds of thousands of people towards hunger. Hamas suggests it's open to a ceasefire agreement with Israel but is stopping short of accepting a US-backed proposal announced by President Donald Trump hours earlier, insisting on its longstanding position that any deal bring an end to the war in Gaza. Trump said on Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. The US leader has increased pressure on Israel and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war. Trump said the 60 days would be used to work towards ending the war, something Israel says it will not accept until Hamas is defeated. He said a deal might come together as soon as next week. But Hamas's response, which emphasised its demand that the war end, raised questions about whether the latest offer could become an actual pause in fighting. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said the militant group was "ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement". Hamas was "ready to accept any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war". A Hamas delegation is expected to meet Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the proposal. Throughout the nearly 21-month-long war, ceasefire talks have faltered repeatedly over whether the war should end as part of any deal. Hamas has said it is willing to free the remaining 50 hostages, fewer than half of whom are said to be alive, in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war. Israel says it will agree to end the war only if Hamas surrenders, disarms and exiles itself, something the group refuses to do. An Israeli official said the latest proposal calls for a 60-day deal that would include a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a surge in humanitarian aid to the territory. The mediators and the US would provide assurances about talks on an end to the war, but Israel was not committing to that as part of the latest proposal, the official said. It was not clear how many hostages would be freed as part of the agreement, but previous proposals have called for the release of about 10. Israel has yet to comment publicly on Trump's announcement. On Monday, Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House, days after Ron Dermer, a senior Netanyahu adviser, held discussions with top US officials about Gaza, Iran and other matters. On Tuesday, Trump wrote on social media that Israel had "agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War". "I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better - IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE," he said. Even before the expiration of the war's longest ceasefire in March, Trump has repeatedly issued dramatic ultimatums to pressure Hamas to agree to longer pauses in the fighting that would include the release of more hostages and a return of more aid to Gaza's civilian populace. Still, Trump views the current moment as a potential turning point in the brutal conflict that has left more than 56,000 dead in the Palestinian territory. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. The war has left the Palestinian territory in ruins and has sparked a humanitarian crisis, pushing hundreds of thousands of people towards hunger.
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
‘Trigger warning': CNN delivers ‘sobering news' about Trump's historic approval
Sky News host Rita Panahi discusses how Donald Trump became the 'most popular president' with Republicans ever – five months into his presidency. 'CNN had some sobering news for their ever-diminishing audience,' Ms Panahi said. 'This needed a trigger warning for the lefty snowflakes because there is no way you can spin this data – it is historic.'
