Border Czar Tom Homan defended the cost of President Donald Trump’s new migrant detention facility in Florida during an interview Tuesday with Chris Cuomo on NewsNation, citing significantly higher taxpayer expenses under the Biden administration’s handling of illegal immigration.
President Trump visited the facility, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” on Tuesday alongside officials from his administration.
The complex, located in southern Florida, is expected to cost $450 million and hold up to 5,000 illegal migrants and other foreign nationals.
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Cuomo questioned Homan about Democratic criticism of the facility’s price tag. In response, Homan drew comparisons to the Biden-Harris administration’s approach, particularly its use of hotels to house migrants in major cities.
“Well, let’s compare it to the last administration, OK? They’re putting illegal aliens in hotel rooms in New York City for like 500 bucks a night. That’s a fact,” Homan said.
“Five hundred dollars per alien, per night for a hotel room. Then they had to pay for food, three meals a day. They had to pay for medical care. They had to pay for attorney access. All these other things were added to that 500 bucks a night. So who knows what the cost was, really. I don’t have that number.”
Throughout Joe Biden’s term, millions of illegal migrants entered the United States, triggering what federal and local officials labeled a border crisis.
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To address the strain on states and municipalities, the Biden-Harris administration distributed significant federal funds.
In August 2024, the Department of Homeland Security approved more than $380 million through FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program (SSP).
That followed another $260 million in SSP grants issued in April 2024 and over $780 million distributed in 2023 through SSP and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.
Homan, who previously served as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, emphasized that the Florida facility offers a more cost-effective solution by providing centralized medical, legal, and logistical support.
“I can tell you the beds here are just under 300, is what I was briefed on. That includes three meals a day, full medical doctors and nurses on site,” Homan said.
“So you got food, you got medical. What’s great about this facility is there’s an airstrip right there. So we can also have additional efficiencies on transportation because we have air transport in Arizona. We got in Texas. We got in Louisiana. Having an airstrip in Florida, we have all the East Coast states staging in Florida instead of having numerous, sending some to Louisiana, sending some on to Arizona for a removal of Central America or to Asia.”
Major cities across the country, particularly those with sanctuary policies, saw increased financial burdens as they absorbed migrants released into communities.
New York City spent $1.45 billion on migrant-related costs in fiscal year 2023.
By the following year, Democrat Mayor Eric Adams moved to cut back the city’s migrant services, citing a $12 billion deficit.
Homan explained how the new facility’s on-site infrastructure, including its airstrip, will streamline deportation logistics and reduce costs associated with transportation.
“Now we have an airstrip right there in Florida, which not only benefits that facility, because we’re going to have immigration hearings also at that facility in Florida,” Homan said.
“Which means when they get already deported, and we get a planeload, we can simply load a plane right there and take them to their home country.”
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“So it’s actually a cost savings on the beds compared to [the] last administration. It’s an extreme cost savings on transportation because you got an airstrip right there that can serve the entire East Coast,” he added.
Since President Trump returned to office, his administration has prioritized immigration enforcement and mass deportations.
According to ICE data, officials have conducted more than 20,000 arrests in the 2025 fiscal year so far.
The new Florida facility is expected to further support that enforcement infrastructure by expanding detention capacity and improving processing speed for removals.
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A “businessman” solution to a money problem, and the democRATS can’t even see it….!!
Mr. Homan notes, “I don’t have that number.” He needs to get that number. And not just a per diem number, the grand total.
The suburban moms and other goo-goos think they are being nice to the poor huddled masses. But at what cost, to you and me and them and their kids and their grandchildren’s futures? We’re 36 TRILLION! in debt. What did we spend it on? In part at least on 20 million illegal aliens. The fence jumper who left a mud hut where he was threatened by gangs and tropical diseases, lied, and now lives in a Manhattan hotel with fire and police protection and access to education, clean water, flush toilets, health services and free lawyers; his life got a lot better. Maybe some day he’ll send you a thank you note, but don’t hold your breath. Is YOUR life 36 TRILLION dollars better? No, it’s 36 TRILLION worse, money your grandchildren will have to repay.
Cuomo is a hack and a Demo-thug. He knows he’s lying and presenting a false narrative and that’s ok with him. As long as Democrats stay in power, they will sleep with the Devil. The entire open door policy was a gambit to use the US Census to increase Democrat representation in Congress. Once they had that, they’d pass illegal immigrant voting rights and there would never be a Republican or Conservative Administration ever again. That is their goal and they are not going to give it up.
AND! Every once in awhile, the alligators can have an “immigrant” day to get fat on. Tell THAT to your immigrants, Democrat politicians!!! And like some of your politicians, maybe you would like to join them!!
The nice thing about Gators is they’re totally apolitical and non-racist or even sexist ! They will quite happily eat ANYONE they can get their teeth into – and come to think of it – they’re VERY good at that ;)
Now let’s see what the useless “reCAPTCHA” needs finding this morning – will it be more bridges or just plain old motorcycles ? :)
Fredo Cuomo got to learn when to stfu and quit gotcha questions with z strong man