{"id":2453992,"date":"2025-06-30T18:54:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T22:54:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-gop-sells-alligator-alcatraz-merch-ahead-of-ice-facility-launch-in-everglades-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-06-30T18:55:20","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T22:55:20","slug":"florida-gop-sells-alligator-alcatraz-merch-ahead-of-ice-facility-launch-in-everglades-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-gop-sells-alligator-alcatraz-merch-ahead-of-ice-facility-launch-in-everglades-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida GOP sells \u2018Alligator Alcatraz\u2019 merch ahead of ICE facility launch in Everglades &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fflorida-gop-sells-alligator-alcatraz-merch-ahead-of-ice-facility-launch-in-everglades-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2453992&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Florida Republican Party has introduced a range of merchandise featuring the nickname &#8220;Alligator Alcatraz&#8221; ahead of the opening of a new immigrant detention center located in the Everglades. This facility, which is set to start operations on July 1, is designed to hold migrants and alleviate overcrowding in local jails, while also supporting the Trump management&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-weighs-case-that-could-aid-trumps-mass-deportation-agenda-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Supreme Court weighs case that could aid Trump\u2019s mass deportation agenda - Washington Examiner\">mass deportation agenda<\/a>. Merchandise such as T-shirts and hats will be sold through the party&#8217;s online store. Governor Ron DeSantis has promoted the center as being secure due to its isolated location, surrounded by swamps and wildlife, making it escape-proof. However, the project has attracted criticism from Democrats, immigration advocates, and environmental activists, who have protested against its establishment, citing concerns for both human rights and ecological impact.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Florida GOP sells &lsquo;Alligator Alcatraz&rsquo; merch ahead of ICE facility launch in Everglades<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2162540\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>As Florida prepares to open a new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3457679\/trump-visit-alligator-alcatraz-ice-detention-center-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"immigrant\">immigrant<\/a> detention center deep in the Everglades, the state&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-party\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Republican Party\">Republican Party<\/a> is capitalizing on the moment with a new line of merchandise, branded with the nickname &ldquo;Alligator Alcatraz.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>T-shirts, hats, and can koozies featuring the gator-themed branding are now available in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"obtained by\">Florida<\/a> GOP&rsquo;s online store. The merch rollout comes just a day before the facility&rsquo;s official July 1 launch, announced in a party fundraising message, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FBSaunders\/status\/1938589044037874062\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"obtained by\">obtained by<\/a> Scripps reporter Forrest Saunders.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3457834\/firefighters-ambushed-sniper-idaho-what-we-know\/\">Firefighters ambushed by sniper in Idaho: What we know about deadly shooting<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3457670\/two-dead-shooting-targeting-firefighters-idaho\/\">Two dead after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/two-dead-after-shooting-targeting-firefighters-in-idaho-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Two dead after shooting targeting firefighters in Idaho - Washington Examiner\">shooting targeting firefighters<\/a> in Idaho<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3456999\/washington-post-journalist-charged-child-pornography-possession\/\">Washington Post journalist charged with child pornography possession<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Florida&rsquo;s new migrant detention facility, &ldquo;Alligator Alcatraz,&rdquo; now has &#8294;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FloridaGOP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@FloridaGOP<\/a>&#8297; swag. &#8294;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GovRonDeSantis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@GovRonDeSantis<\/a>&#8297; showed the remote Everglades site to &#8294;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SteveDoocy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SteveDoocy<\/a>&#8297; this morning, saying it&rsquo;ll host its first detainees by Tuesday. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/A4NYrkJVUF\">pic.twitter.com\/A4NYrkJVUF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Forrest Saunders (@FBSaunders) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FBSaunders\/status\/1938589044037874062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 27, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The feds have greenlit Alligator Alcatraz, Florida&rsquo;s gator-guarded, python-patrolled prison for illegal aliens who thought they could game the system,&rdquo; the email reads. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Surrounded by miles of swamp and bloodthirsty wildlife, this ain&rsquo;t no vacation spot. It&rsquo;s a one-way ticket to regret for criminals who&rsquo;ll wish they&rsquo;d self-deported.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The 5,000-bed detention center, located on a former airport site in Miami&ndash;Dade County, was fast-tracked by Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ron-desantis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Ron DeSantis\">Ron DeSantis<\/a> (R-FL) under an emergency order.<\/p>\n<p>The facility intends to relieve overcrowding in local jails and support President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Donald Trump\">Donald Trump<\/a> and his administration&rsquo;s mass deportation initiative. It is nicknamed &ldquo;Alligator Alcatraz&rdquo; for its remote, swampy location and surrounding wildlife, including alligators and pythons.<\/p>\n<p>Trump is set to visit the site Tuesday for its grand opening alongside DeSantis, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and other state leaders.<\/p>\n<p>White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the center &ldquo;an efficient and low-cost way to help carry out the largest mass deportation campaign in American history.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When you have illegal murderers and rapists and heinous criminals in a detention center surrounded by alligators, yes I do think that&rsquo;s a deterrent for them to try to escape,&rdquo; Leavitt <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/factpostnews\/status\/1939744589990035833\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"said\">said<\/a> on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There is only one road leading in,&rdquo; she <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/atrupar\/status\/1939737187651584341\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">added<\/a>. &ldquo;The only way out is a one-way flight.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-media-max-width=\"560\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Leavitt on DeSantis&#8217;s new &#8220;Alligator Alcatraz&#8221; migrant camp that Trump will tour tomorrow: &#8220;The only way out is a one-way flight. It is isolated and surrounded by dangerous wildlife &hellip; This is an efficient and low cost way to help carry out the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >largest mass deportation campaign&#038;hellip<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/INFioVcLS5\">pic.twitter.com\/INFioVcLS5<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/atrupar\/status\/1939737187651584341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 30, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>The detention center is being built with partial funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and operated in coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>According to DeSantis, the isolated location, with only one road in and dense Everglades swamp on all sides, makes it nearly escape-proof.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is as secure as it gets,&rdquo; the Florida governor <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RichSementa\/status\/1938666017011466543\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"said\">said<\/a>. &ldquo;If a criminal alien were to escape from here somehow, and I don&rsquo;t think they will, you&rsquo;ve got nowhere to go&hellip; What are you going to do? Dodge alligators?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-media-max-width=\"560\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Gov Ron DeSantis Goes Inside Alligator Alcatraz<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This is as secure as it gets. If a criminal aiien were to escape from here somehow and I don&#8217;t think they will, you&#8217;ve got no where to go.&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FKI0C1iX8S\">pic.twitter.com\/FKI0C1iX8S<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Mr Producer (@RichSementa) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RichSementa\/status\/1938666017011466543?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 27, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3456187\/zohran-mamdani-money-from-groups-help-illegal-immigrants-avoid-deportation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>ZOHRAN MAMDANI TOOK MONEY FROM GROUPS THAT HELP ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AVOID DEPORTATION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Despite the support from state and federal Republican leaders, the project has drawn sharp backlash from Democrats, immigration advocates, and environmental groups. Dozens of protesters lined Highway 41 over the weekend holding signs that read, &ldquo;No Alligator Alcatraz,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Abuse People, Abuse the Everglades.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Alligator Alcatraz&rdquo; will begin holding detainees on July 1, and operations are expected to ramp up quickly under the oversight of ICE and the Florida Division of Emergency Management.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2162540\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2162540\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Florida GOP launches &#8216;Alligator Alcatraz&#8217; merch ahead of ICE center opening<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2678,"featured_media":2453993,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Alligator-Alcatraz.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[57804,58195,5113,6203,54965],"class_list":["post-2453992","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-alligator-alcatraz","tag-everglades","tag-florida","tag-gop","tag-ice-facility"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Alligator-Alcatraz.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2453992","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2678"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2453992"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2453992\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2453996,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2453992\/revisions\/2453996"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2453993"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2453992"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2453992"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2453992"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}