Alaska’s humorous proposal for a “Bear Alcatraz” detention facility to house illegal immigrants proves that the Last Frontier’s creativity knows no bounds in tackling America’s border crisis.
At a Glance
- Following the opening of Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center, Alaska has quipped about creating a “Bear Alcatraz.”
- The joke came after White House advisor Stephen Miller called on all Republican governors to build similar state-run detention facilities.
- Florida’s facility, recently toured by President Trump, is designed to hold up to 5,000 criminal illegal aliens awaiting deportation.
- The new facilities are part of a $150 billion mass deportation agenda funded by the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
From Alligators to Bears
Just when you thought the immigration debate couldn’t get any wilder, Alaska has entered the chat. In a humorous response to the opening of Florida’s now-infamous “Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility, Alaskan officials have quipped that they could establish their own version. “We don’t have alligators, but we have lots of bears,” one official deadpanned, floating the idea of a “Bear Alcatraz” to house criminal illegal aliens.
Alaska quips about opening ‘Bear Alcatraz’ as WH chief of staff urges Republican states to work with DHS to build more detention facilities https://t.co/JPUc77qB4H pic.twitter.com/ldzrS0JWBm
— New York Post (@nypost) July 4, 2025
While the Alaskan proposal is purely satirical, it highlights a serious new push from the White House for Republican-led states to take a more active role in immigration enforcement.
A Call to Action for Red States
The “Bear Alcatraz” comment came after White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller made a direct appeal to GOP governors across the country. As reported by the New York Post, Miller urged them to “Pick up the phone, call DHS, and work with us to build facilities in your state so we can get the illegals and criminals out.”
Florida, under Governor Ron DeSantis, has provided the model. Its “Alligator Alcatraz” facility, built in just eight days in the Everglades, will hold up to 5,000 detainees and is being funded by repurposed FEMA money.
Trump’s Tough Stance on Illegal Immigration
President Trump recently toured the Florida facility and praised it as a common-sense solution to a national crisis. “It’s known as Alligator Alcatraz, which is very appropriate because I looked outside, and that’s not a place I want to go hiking,” Trump said. “But very soon, this facility will house some of the most menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet.”
The new detention centers are a key part of the administration’s plan for “the largest mass deportation operation in US history,” an effort being funded by a $150 billion allocation in the recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
The administration justifies the high cost by pointing to the even higher cost of unchecked illegal immigration. During his visit, Trump cited a PolitiFact-referenced report from the Center for Immigration Studies, noting that “the average illegal alien costs American taxpayers an estimated $70,000.” By detaining and deporting criminal aliens, the administration argues it is not only protecting national security but also saving American taxpayers from a massive financial burden.
