Florida's 'alligator Alcatraz' Immigration Detention Center Is Closing, Governor Says

The migration halfway built successful nan Florida swamps known arsenic “Alligator Alcatraz” is closing aft astir a twelvemonth of holding thousands of migrant detainees, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday.

DeSantis said nan halfway was ever expected to beryllium impermanent and now national officials person capable expertise to grip detention and deportation successful much imperishable facilities.

The extremity was to person nan installation unfastened only for astir a twelvemonth until much imperishable detention centers could beryllium secured, DeSantis said.

“It served its intent for nan time,” nan Republican politician said.

Officials announced a impermanent closure of nan installation earlier successful June, saying hurricane play made it unsafe to support nan detainees successful nan Florida Everglades. All nan of group kept astatine nan isolated airstrip had been sent to different facilities.

Immigration advocates said nan tents were ne'er safe aliases humane to clasp people. Detainees astatine nan installation person talked astir their trouble accessing lawyers, and person described mediocre beingness conditions, including worms successful nan food, toilets that don’t flush, flooding floors pinch fecal waste, and mosquitoes and different insects everywhere.

The detention halfway was built by DeSantis’ management successful a matter of days successful 2025 and President Trump came to sojourn site.

DeSantis and Trump said nan detention halfway was captious to Republican efforts to return group successful nan state illegally backmost to their location countries. The Republican politician said 21,000 group were deported done nan facility.