If you thought the construction and management problems of Donald Trump‘s properties were bad, wait until you hear about Alligator Alcatraz.
Spoiler: it’s not a wildlife refuge. It’s actually a controversial immigrant detention center built under a Trump-related contract — and guess what? This human-rights-disaster-in-waiting is already flooding in a light rainstorm. What happens when there’s a hurricane?
Yes, that’s right, flooding
Our $450,000,000 Alligator Alcatraz in Florida Everglades is already flooding. Wonder what’s going to happen in a hurricane.
— Maine (@TheMaineWonk) July 2, 2025
Don’t worry! 17,000,000 are set to lose their health care to help pay for it.
We are not a serious country.
pic.twitter.com/hVWxVQFxui
Multiple news outlets reported that the detention center flooded almost immediately after opening. The Miami Herald described how the water quickly seeped into the facility. Footage showed water flooding into the facility during a routine rainstorm on its very first day. One report from Newsweek noted that the water compromised electrical systems.
What is Alligator Alcatraz?
Alligator Alcatraz is the nickname given to a new migrant detention center located in Florida’s Everglades region. The facility, run by a company linked to the Trump administration’s border policies, was designed to hold undocumented immigrants. The goal was to ease overcrowding elsewhere. But from day one, it’s been riddled with problems.
To be clear, while it’s tied to Trump administration policies and contractors, Alligator Alcatraz construction was overseen by Florida officials under emergency powers, with funding from Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program.
Why the flooding is a big deal
Tents at “Alligator Alcatraz” are already beginning to flood from light rain ahead of this week’s forecasted tropical weather system, expected to produce several inches of rain and potential flooding.
— Travis Akers
Warm, stagnant water fosters rapid growth of algae and harmful bacteria like… pic.twitter.com/bJU5uf9Kqx(@travisakers) July 2, 2025
Still, Trump’s in charge, and flooding in any building is bad news. In a detention center, it’s especially alarming. People are being held there against their will, relying entirely on the facility’s infrastructure for basic safety. The flooding issues not only endanger detainees but also highlight the shoddy construction and lack of preparedness.
Not exactly Trump property — but close enough
While Alligator Alcatraz isn’t a Trump-branded hotel or condo, it’s tied to his administration’s policies and contractors. And it’s showing the same problems that have plagued many Trump developments. From water leaks to poor design, Trump properties have a long track record of construction and maintenance issues.
Take the Trump SoHo condos, which faced flooding complaints and lawsuits over poor workmanship. Or the Trump International Hotel in Chicago, which dealt with persistent water damage and costly repairs. The Everglades detention center fits right into this pattern of projects rushing to open without solid planning.
What’s next?
The flooding forced immediate repairs, but critics say this center symbolizes a broader failure in the government’s approach to immigration detention. It’s expensive, poorly built, and now a public health risk.
Beyond the harrowing purpose of the facility, this disaster also raises questions about oversight. Who approved this rushed project? And why weren’t these issues caught earlier?
