The temporary immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” has officially closed, according to Governor Ron DeSantis. Opened in July 2025, the facility was intended as a short-term solution until permanent detention capacity could be secured. Detainees, however, reported inhumane conditions, including inadequate access to legal counsel and severe sanitation issues. Despite the closure, environmental groups vow to hold officials accountable for alleged unaddressed environmental damage.
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A new migrant detention center, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” has opened in the Florida Everglades, built in record time and with an initial capacity of 3,000 detainees. The facility, which is expected to expand to 5,000 beds, will house immigrants arrested by Florida law enforcement under the 287(g) program. While the state is funding and operating the center, federal agencies have distanced themselves from it, despite it being championed by former President Donald Trump, who has embraced the facility. The center, which is located on land seized by state officials, has drawn criticism from environmental groups, human rights advocates, and Native American tribes.
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Protests erupted outside an airstrip in the Florida Everglades as construction began on an immigrant detention center, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” fueled by concerns from environmentalists, Native Americans, and human rights advocates. The state government fast-tracked the project under emergency powers, which allowed it to sidestep certain purchasing laws. Critics argue the location threatens the sensitive ecosystem and encroaches on ancestral lands, while also raising concerns about the inhumane housing of immigrants. Despite these objections, the state aims to have 5,000 immigration detention beds in operation by early July.
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John Q. Hosedrinker