President Donald Trump on Tuesday addressed growing environmental concerns over the planned construction of a large immigration detention facility near the Florida Everglades, stating that the project would not harm the surrounding federally protected land.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion at Alligator Alcatraz, a proposed 3,000-bed detention center site, Trump responded to criticism about potential pollution from waste and infrastructure expansion in a fragile ecosystem.
“I was one of those who invested billions of dollars into restoring the Everglades,” he said, before adding that the current site was “already developed” and sits atop an old airport and rail line. “It’s not like you’re dropping dirt into untouched land,” he added.
The former president described the location as “perfect,” noting that infrastructure such as runways and concrete pads had existed there for decades. When questioned about runoff and wastewater, Trump and others at the table claimed the site has systems in place to prevent contamination.
“You are literally doing this on concrete that’s already here,” said one participant during the discussion. “Even our DOT has put up safeguards in case of seepage—which, we haven’t seen.”
Critics have expressed concern that development could disturb one of the most ecologically sensitive regions in the country. The Everglades has been the focus of large-scale restoration projects under both Republican and Democratic administrations.
Trump suggested that much of the opposition had less to do with environmental protection and more to do with political disagreements over immigration policy.
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“People don’t want to see illegal immigrants deported,” he said. “That’s their ideology. So instead, they say it’s about the Everglades.”
He continued, “We ran on this issue and won 82% on it. People don’t want illegals in their country. And from an environmental standpoint, this is incredible.”
The location choice has drawn mixed reactions. While some state officials praised the decision, citing minimal impact due to the site’s preexisting development, environmental groups remain skeptical.
During the event, Trump also referenced the site’s durability, mentioning that the concrete was recently tested to support heavy aircraft landings. “They checked it and said, ‘This thing is really solid.’”
No timeline has been given for construction, but the conversation signals renewed federal attention on immigration enforcement infrastructure. Meanwhile, environmental monitoring groups are expected to continue tracking developments near the Everglades.
As for the broader debate, Trump concluded, “It was a great choice of a site.” Whether that view is shared beyond his circle remains to be seen.
