As ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ begins taking in illegal migrants, one US state has floated opening another detention center surrounded by another menacing animal – bears.
Alaska responded to a Trump administration official’s call for migrant detention centers similar to the newly opened one in the middle of the Florida Everglades to be built.
‘Every governor of a red state, if you are watching tonight: Pick up the phone, call (the Department of Homeland Security), work with us to build facilities in your state so we can get the illegals and criminals out,’ White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller said on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle earlier this week.
Alaska replied: ‘We don’t have alligators, but we have lots of bears.’
The unidentified spokesperson also said: ‘I am not aware of any plans for an Alaska version of Alligator Alcatraz.’
It comes as President Donald Trump on Tuesday toured the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ facility at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee which can already house at least 3,000 migrants.
Florida officials noted that the center is surrounded by dangerous animals including alligators and pythons, as well as mosquitos, giving potential escapees a treacherous path ahead.
Trump praised the facility, which was first offered by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, and said the Sunshine State would be getting another a second one like it ‘and probably a couple more’.
He said he wanted to see more such facilities in ‘many states’.
‘The incredible thing is picking the site because the site was one of the most natural sites. It might be as good as the real Alcatraz,’ Trump said, referring to the infamous former maximum security prison at Alcatraz Island in California.
‘Well, that’s a spooky one too. That’s a tough site. So I really think it could last as long as they want to have.’
The first group of migrants arrived at Alligator Alcatraz on Thursday.
‘People are there,’ said Uthmeier’s Press Secretary Jae Williams, providing little other detail.
Alaska, nicknamed The Last Frontier, is home to roughy 100,000 black bears, 30,000 brown bears and 7,000 polar bears, according to its government.
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