The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz #BecauseMiami: Alligator Alcatraz
Jun 27, 2025
Billy Corben, a Miami-based filmmaker known for his documentaries, joins Alejandro de la Fuente, a Harvard professor specializing in African American studies. They dive into the controversial construction of a new migrant detention center in the Everglades, humorously dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz.' The conversation sheds light on its potential environmental impact and the local community's fierce opposition. Corben and de la Fuente also discuss the ramifications of Trump's policies on foreign students, linking academic freedom and historical injustices with the current political climate.
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Controversy Over 'Alligator Alcatraz'
- Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" migrant detention center is being built on environmentally sensitive, overpriced land seized by the governor under an emergency immigration proclamation.
- The operation will cost hundreds of millions annually, misuse hurricane relief funds, and overlooks serious local concerns.
Harsh Conditions in Everglades Detention
- Detaining migrants in the Everglades exposes them to extreme heat, disease-carrying mosquitoes, and dangerous wildlife during hurricane season.
- Conditions in such facilities echo historical abuses and may violate constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment.
Wrongful Detention of U.S. Citizen
- Billy Corben recounts helping release a U.S.-born Hispanic man wrongly detained and held for 28 hours due to racial profiling.
- This incident exemplifies the risks of wrongful detention and the overreach of immigration enforcement in Florida.