Trump visits Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' as new ICE detention center opens Tuesday

MIAMI, Fla. - President Donald Trump is in Florida on Tuesday to visit the state's large new immigration detention center in the Everglades, dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz."

The backstory:

Gov. Ron DeSantis used emergency powers to authorize the construction of a new center to detain illegal immigrants at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, a 30-square-mile remote airfield.

The quick construction process for the center, which is expected to cost about $450 million per year, began about a week ago. Tent structures are being set up to house up to 5,000 immigrants at any given time by the end of July.

Signs put up by the state show there will be 1,000 staff on site along with 200 security cameras. State officials also say indoor facilities are air conditioned.

Last week, the governor commented on the new center and its "Alligator Alcatraz" nickname.

"Clearly, from a security perspective, if someone escapes, you know, there are a lot of alligators you're going to have to contend with. No one's going anywhere once you do that. It's as safe and secure as can be," DeSantis said.

On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump’s trip to Florida, set for Tuesday.

RELATED: ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ merchandise for sale by Florida Republicans

The other side:

The short timeline from approval to construction is, in part, what's causing major backlash from environmental groups and the Miccosukee Indian Tribe, saying the plans didn't go through a full review or public comment.

Two groups, Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, filed a federal lawsuit late last week.

DeSantis countered the claims, saying the center will have no negative environmental effects while touting increased funding in recent years for Everglades restoration.

PREVIOUS: ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ facility sparks outcry from Indian tribe, environmentalists

A retired Federal Bureau of Prisons officer, however, says the facility could lead to many other problems.

"I would think it's going to be almost like, a nightmare to do," Joe Rojas said. "When you talk about staffing, we talk about the security, the working conditions, you know, are they going to have air conditioning, the mold problem, and obviously dangerous, when you're dealing with people who are detained, whether convicted felons or even detainees, Depending on the working conditions, they will get agitated. Just human nature, people get agitated. And the first person they look at are those officers."

Dig deeper:

The governor also revealed last week that a second potential new ICE detention center is in the works at Camp Blanding – Florida’s National Guard training headquarters located southwest of Jacksonville.

RELATED: DeSantis reveals plans for second ICE detention center in Florida

What they're saying:

Trump arrived in Florida on Tuesday morning to take a tour of the new Everglades facility before taking part in a roundtable with DeSantis and other officials.

"This is a very important thing," Trump said moments after getting off the plane. "We're setting records at the border."

Trump and DeSantis also took aim at the 2020 Census, saying they support a measure forcing the U.S. Census Bureau to ensure that only U.S. citizens are factored into counts for Congressional districts and the Electoral College map.

"This country is not fairly apportioned," DeSantis said. "I've got so many more millions of people in Florida that have representation because of that flawed census."

At Tuesday's roundtable, Trump again took aim at illegal immigration, making claims that the Biden Administration let millions of people into the country at the Southern border.

"These are foreign gangs, horrendous people," Trump said. "Killers that have infiltrated our territory, including eight that have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations."

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem praised the state's quick efforts in getting the facility ready.

"Our job is to uphold the law," Noem said. "This is a country of laws. We have a border now."

FloridaImmigrationDonald J. TrumpPolitics