The first group of migrants has arrived at “Alligator Alcatraz”, Donald Trump’s new immigration detention centre deep in the Florida Everglades.

Aerial footage filmed by NBC News showed officials walking people, who appeared to have their hands restrained in front of them, into the sprawling detention centre.

“The first group has arrived at Alligator Alcatraz”, Florida Division of Emergency Management wrote on X on Thursday.

Posting a picture of a white van pulled up to a metal fence, it added: “Florida is proud to help facilitate @realDonaldTrump’s mission to enforce immigration law.”

Built in just eight days, the site, located 50 miles west of Miami, is designed to house up to 5,000 migrants and will cost an estimated $450 million (£330 million) a year to run when it is fully operational.

The site’s name references the reptile-infested swamp that surrounds the prison, the site is the latest controversial move by the Trump administration to ramp up its deportation programme.

Following Mr Trump’s visit earlier this week, signs for “Alligator Alcatraz” were also put up near the facility.

Workers put up signs along the sole highway leading to the site and outside the entrance of the airfield that has been known as the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport.

State officials seized the county-owned land where the facility is located using emergency powers authorized by an executive order issued by the governor.