Alligator Alcatraz: Florida's Controversial Immigration Facility Closes
The immigration detention facility in the Florida Everglades known as "Alligator Alcatraz" has ceased operations after less than a year of service.
The facility, which opened in July 2025, was built and operated by the state of Florida with the expectation of federal reimbursement. Reports indicate that detainees were transferred out in early June 2026, and the facility is now scheduled for demilitarization.
Timeline of Events
- July 3, 2025: The facility, located on an isolated airstrip approximately 50 miles west of Miami, opened for operations using state funds.
- May 2026: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated the facility was always intended to be temporary and that the federal government now has resources to handle detainees elsewhere.
- Early June 2026: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that all detainees had been transferred to other facilities due to hurricane season safety concerns.
- June 2026: The Florida Department of Emergency Management notified vendors that the facility would close and that approximately 1,400 detainees would be removed by the end of the month. The site is planned to reopen as a small airport for pilot training.
Facility Operations and Costs
The facility was operated by the Florida Division of Emergency Management for the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It held up to 1,400 detainees in temporary structures and processed over 20,000 undocumented immigrants since opening.
Operating costs were reported at approximately $1.2 million per day, totaling an estimated nearly $1 billion over the facility's lifespan. The state submitted a $608 million reimbursement request to the federal government, which was approved but held up due to court challenges and environmental issues. An additional $300 million in costs were incurred without guarantee of federal reimbursement.
Detainee Allegations
Detainees reported multiple issues during the facility's operation. In May 2026, detainees alleged through the Workers Circle advocacy group that guards denied them food and fresh water to pressure them into signing documents presented in English, which they stated they could not understand.
Specific claims included:
- Contaminated water containing mosquito larvae
- Meals being withheld
- Medication delays for detainees with medical conditions
- Worms in food
- Non-flushing toilets
- Floors flooded with fecal waste
- Insect infestations
- Difficulties accessing lawyers and legal representation
State officials denied mistreatment of detainees and stated that medical facilities and staff were available 24/7.
Legal and Environmental Issues
Environmental advocates filed a pending lawsuit arguing that the facility's construction caused irreparable damage to the Everglades and Miccosukee tribal lands. An appeals court overturned a previous district court order to close the facility.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit over lack of legal representation for detainees.
Responses from Officials
"The facility served its purpose. It was always intended to be temporary." — Governor Ron DeSantis
"Transfers occurred for the safety of the illegal alien detainees. Reports of pressure to close the facility are false." — DHS Spokesperson Lauren Bis
"Medical facilities and staff are available 24/7 to detainees." — Florida Department of Emergency Management Communications Director Stephanie Hartman
Criticism and Reactions
Immigrant advocates and lawyers criticized the facility's conditions and called for a permanent closure. Immigration attorney Katie Blankenship reported that 50 clients had been moved to facilities in South Florida, California, Arizona, Louisiana, and Texas without official notice.
Some advocates questioned the hurricane season rationale, noting the facility had operated for nearly a year. The Workers Circle group announced plans to hold vigils until the last detainee leaves and called for an investigation into corruption and profiteering.
The Miami Herald reported that many contractors at the facility had donated to Governor DeSantis or other Republican politicians.