A leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official says he has no knowledge of an ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention center planned for Alabama, despite reports suggesting otherwise.

Chris Cannon, assistant field officer with the ICE office in New Orleans, said Tuesday he has no knowledge about a similar detention center planned for Alabama.

If a detention facility is in the works, with or without an alligator swamp surrounding it, Cannon said he should be among the first to know.

“I’m not aware of it,” Cannon told AL.com, after addressing a gathering of county sheriffs attending the Alabama Sheriffs Association’s summer conference this week in Orange Beach. “I would be the person responsible for all of it.”

The name “Alligator Alcatraz,” was given to an isolated immigrant compound operating under Florida state control within the Florida Everglades. It is surrounded by swamplands, and state and federal officials have touted its location by citing that alligators and snakes could serve as security for the detainees inside.

“I am unaware of anything like that in this state,” said Cannon, a 16-year ICE employee who helps lead a field office that covers five Southern U.S. states including Alabama. “There were two companies out of Mobile awarded a contract to build these facilities. But my understanding is that is nationwide and not centralized to Alabama.”

His comments come after President Donald Trump last week praised Alabama and other GOP-led states for creating their own versions of “Alligator Alcatraz.” It also comes after two Mobile companies – Kastel Enterprises and Rapid Development Inc. – were awarded contracts to build additional detention beds across the country for the Department of Homeland Security and ICE.

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, on his gubernatorial campaign site on X, responded “Let’s do it” to a story about Trump floating the idea of a similar facility in Alabama.

Protesters have blasted the Trump administration for the Florida facility, calling it inhumane and labeling it as a makeshift prison camp. But GOP-supporters say it’s “cost-effective” and could serve as a model for other temporary facilities as the federal government undergoes a mass deportation agenda under Trump.

It was built within a matter of weeks, raising concerns from environmental groups and others over a lack of having sufficient resources like food and water. Civil rights groups have labeled it as a looming human rights disaster.

The facility, which costs around $450 million to operate, is designed to hold about 3,000 people, with the potential to expand to 5,000.

Utilities, such as water, sewage and power will be provided by mobile equipment, according to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office.