Alligator Alcatraz

Governor Ron DeSantis announced the closure of the Everglades immigration detention center 'Alligator Alcatraz,' claiming it fulfilled its temporary purpose. Critics argue the facility, which cost $3,571 per detainee daily, was the most expensive detention center in U.S. history, funded by over $1 billion in taxpayer dollars through no-bid contracts and emergency fund misappropriation. The project faced accusations of diverting resources from essential programs and violating state laws.

Florida's emergency fund spent $564 million (63%) on immigration enforcement in the fiscal year 2025-2026, exceeding all other emergency missions combined. The Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund, originally intended for disasters, was redirected for immigration efforts, including facilities like 'Alligator Alcatraz' and 'Deportation Depot.'

A Nativity scene with Mary and Joseph in cages at 'Alligator Alcatraz' in Florida symbolizes family separation due to immigration detention policies. The article criticizes Republican governance in Florida under Governor Ron DeSantis, citing polarized outcomes, economic challenges, and over $1 billion spent on immigration detention camps.

Families of detainees at the Miami Federal Detention Center report fear of reprisals after speaking about poor conditions, including lack of air conditioning and unsanitary environments. Detainees face disciplinary measures like solitary confinement, according to activists and protesters. The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed AC issues but claims they were resolved.

The Florida migrant detention facility known as 'Alligator Alcatraz' has been shut down, but environmental groups are suing state officials over alleged violations of the National Environmental Policy Act. Plaintiffs argue the facility's construction caused irreversible harm to the Everglades ecosystem, including unreviewed pavement expansion and potential contamination affecting endangered species.

The Center for Biological Diversity dropped its Clean Air Act lawsuit against the state-run Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention center after the facility closed, citing accomplishment of its goal to stop emissions. The group alleged the site emitted hundreds of tons of toxic gases without permits, but the closure ended potential pollution. Another lawsuit remains over alleged violations of the National Environmental Policy Act during the facility's construction.

Families of immigrants detained at the Federal Detention Facility in downtown Miami report poor conditions, including lack of air conditioning, detainees drinking water from sinks, and cockroach infestations. The facility, which houses over 1,300 inmates, has had ongoing air conditioning issues for years, with a portable chiller in use for three years. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Prisons provided limited responses to the concerns.

The Miccosukee Tribe seeks to conserve the 'Alligator Alcatraz' site in the Everglades, but Miami-Dade County cannot transfer the land as it remains under state control. The DeSantis administration seized the land last summer, delaying the county's plans to sell or transfer it for environmental protection.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill restoring Florida's Emergency Response and Preparedness Fund, which covers costs for disasters and immigration-related expenses like the Everglades immigrant detention center. The fund, previously expired in February, now includes restrictions on purchasing certain vehicles and requires legislative review for emergency declarations, except for 'manmade or technological emergencies' like immigration.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava discussed plans to transfer the decommissioned Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention facility site to the National Park Service and to take the Fisher Island fuel depot by eminent domain during her interview on This Week in South Florida with host Glenna Milberg.

A National Park Service official stated the Reflecting Pool liner was cut with a knife or razor. A federal judge halted President Trump's executive order on regulating mail-in voting and creating a federal voter list. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the closure of the detention center known as 'Alligator Alcatraz.'

Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention center, associated with US President Donald Trump's deportation drive, has closed after less than a year of operation. Officials stated it fulfilled its emergency role despite criticism regarding detainees' conditions and due process.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the closure of the South Florida migrant detention center 'Alligator Alcatraz,' which was established in the Everglades to detain criminal immigrants. The facility, criticized by environmentalists and civil rights advocates, deported 21,000 detainees over a year, according to DeSantis, who claimed it prevented dangerous individuals from being released.

Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ is closing after nearly a year of holding thousands of immigrant detainees, as announced by the governor.

Florida immigration jail known as Alligator Alcatraz, which operated for a year at a cost of $1.2 million daily and was linked to cruelty and environmental harm, has closed. Governor Ron DeSantis claimed credit for deporting 21,000 people from the facility and presented its closure as a success for immigration enforcement.

The 'Alligator Alcatraz' migrant detention center in Florida, which faced criticism for its conditions, has closed after nearly a year, according to Governor Ron DeSantis, who stated it was temporary until permanent facilities were secured.

Ron DeSantis announced the closure of the state-run Everglades immigration detention facility 'Alligator Alcatraz,' which processed nearly 21,000 migrants during its under-a-year operation. While DeSantis praised the facility as a success, critics highlighted financial overruns and disorganization, with costs estimated up to $1.7 billion. The facility's closure follows environmental and legal concerns, with plans to repurpose the site as a pilot training airport.

Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention center, criticized for poor conditions including inadequate sanitation and food, has closed after nearly a year, as stated by Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis, a Republican, claimed the facility was temporary until permanent centers were secured, while immigration advocates argued it was inhumane and served corporate interests. The center, built in 2025, facilitated the deportation of 21,000 individuals, with detainees reporting issues like inaccessible legal resources and flooded floors.

Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention center, built in the Everglades in 2025, has closed after nearly a year of operation due to safety concerns during hurricane season. Governor Ron DeSantis stated the facility served its purpose in facilitating deportations, while immigration advocates criticized its inhumane conditions and corporate profiteering.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is holding a news conference at the decommissioned 'Alligator Alcatraz' migrant detention facility. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced plans to sell the site to conservation partners for Everglades restoration after the facility's closure.

The Florida-funded and operated migrant detention center known as 'Alligator Alcatraz' is one step closer to closing permanently. The facility, referred to as 'Alligator Alcatraz,' is set to shut down.

The Florida-funded and operated migrant detention center known as 'Alligator Alcatraz' is set to close permanently. The facility is one step closer to its permanent closure.

Vendors are instructed to dismantle Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention center, which has cost state officials over $1 million per day to operate.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier aims to convert the shuttered 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration facility into a protected environmental area for the Everglades. The facility, facing environmental lawsuits, is closing, with detainees transferred or deported. Environmental groups remain skeptical of Uthmeier's commitment despite his stated plans.

Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie questioned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's decision to relocate detainees from the 'Alligator Alcatraz' facility, citing hurricane preparedness concerns. Guthrie stated the facility's structures could withstand Category 1 hurricane winds and emphasized the site's temporary nature, though he acknowledged uncertainty about future detainee transfers.

Inmates have been moved out of Alligator Alcatraz, the Everglades migrant detention site, the Trump administration confirmed. The administration stated the move was to ensure safety during hurricane season, while environmental groups seeking litigation over the site demand more transparency.

All detainees at the Florida Everglades detention center, known as 'Alligator Alcatraz,' have been transferred to other facilities due to concerns related to the hurricane season, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The Department of Homeland Security has transferred all detainees from the Florida Everglades migrant detention center 'Alligator Alcatraz' to other facilities due to hurricane season concerns. The facility, criticized for harsh conditions and mistreatment, has processed over 20,000 detainees since its 2025 opening, with advocates suggesting the transfer is an excuse for other reasons.

Activity continues at the 'Alligator Alcatraz' migrant detention facility in Florida's Everglades after detainees were moved for hurricane safety, with vehicles and supplies still entering the site. Environmental groups criticize the facility's operation on public land, while Florida taxpayers have spent $1.2 million daily, with $58.2 million already reimbursed by FEMA.

ICE has relocated detainees from the 'Alligator Alcatraz' facility in the Everglades, citing hurricane season safety concerns, but advocacy groups dispute this explanation, alleging a lack of transparency and ongoing operations. Environmental organizations, including Friends of the Everglades, continue legal challenges against the facility, arguing it violates environmental laws, though a court previously ruled it exempt from federal regulations.

Detainees have been moved from Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration jail, but environmental groups continue to push for its permanent closure and Everglades wetlands restoration. The Department of Homeland Security cited hurricane season safety concerns for the transfer.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has relocated detainees from a Florida detention site nicknamed 'Alligator Alcatraz' due to hurricane preparedness concerns. The move, part of Florida's hurricane season (June 1–November 30), aims to ensure detainee safety amid potential severe weather impacts. ICE did not disclose the number of detainees or their new locations.

Florida still owes $603 million to 27 companies for immigration enforcement contracts, including detention facilities and migrant crackdown efforts. The total obligations range between $991 million and $1.01 billion, with unpaid bills including $122 million to a portable toilet company and $79 million to a detention center operator. The DeSantis administration's emergency managers have spent over $500 million on related costs.

ICE has relocated detainees from a soft-sided detention center in the Florida Everglades called 'Alligator Alcatraz' due to hurricane season safety concerns, according to a spokesperson.

Detainees from Florida’s 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration jail have been relocated by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Officials have not disclosed the number of detainees moved or their new locations. The facility, criticized for harsh conditions and praised by Donald Trump, is expected to close.

All detainees at the Everglades detention facility, known as 'Alligator Alcatraz,' have been transferred to other locations due to hurricane season, according to ICE. The facility, described as 'soft-sided,' has been emptied, though the destinations of the detainees remain unclear.

All detainees have been moved from the 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention facility in the Everglades due to hurricane season precautions. A DHS spokesperson cited the facility's 'soft structure' as a risk during storms, and migrants have been transferred to other facilities, though relocation locations remain unclear.

Hundreds of immigrant detainees across 33 states reported inadequate medical care in court filings, including untreated cancers, infections, and chronic conditions like diabetes and HIV. Detainees described delayed or denied medications, unaddressed medical emergencies, and facilities such as 'Alligator Alcatraz' lacking proper oversight.

Detainees at Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration jail reported being denied food and clean water until they signed English documents they didn’t understand. They claimed the provided water was rotten and contained mosquito larvae, according to an audio recording shared with the Guardian.

Detainees at Florida’s 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration jail claim guards denied them food and 'rotten' water containing mosquito larvae until they signed English documents they did not understand. Over half a dozen detainees alleged this treatment was used to pressure them into signing paperwork in a language they could not comprehend.