Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that the state's immigration detention center, dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," will close less than a year after its opening. The facility, located at a training airport, was established last July as part of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts.
DeSantis stated that the center was an "emergency solution that would be temporary," intended to assist the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in detaining individuals while the agency secured additional funding for its own facilities. "DHS is on a better footing, DHS has more capacity to be able to handle these folks, and I always said, 'we're only doing this because it's necessary,'" the governor said during a press conference.
Opened less than a year ago, the detention center faced numerous challenges, including lawsuits from immigrant advocates and concerns raised by lawmakers regarding alleged inhumane conditions. Complaints cited issues such as insufficient medical access and crowded tents exposed to high temperatures and insects. Environmental groups also voiced opposition, warning that the facility's construction could harm the Everglades ecosystem.
Last month, a federal judge denied a request to pause an order compelling the government to provide detainees access to legal counsel. The facility reportedly held over 20,000 individuals. DeSantis confirmed that detainees have been transferred, though details on their destinations were not immediately available. DHS did not respond to requests for comment on the transfers.
Regarding reimbursement for the facility's costs, estimated at $450 million annually for Florida, DeSantis expressed confidence that White House Border Czar Tom Homan would ensure federal repayment. "I was there with Tom [Homan] and the president, and the president said, 'Get Florida their money,' and Tom's going to make sure of it," DeSantis remarked.
Tom Homan praised DeSantis for his role in establishing the detention center and for other immigration enforcement actions in Florida. The ACLU, which had sued the center over access to counsel, welcomed the closure. "The fact that this site ever existed is a travesty, given the cruelty behind it, horrific conditions, and blatant violations of due process," said Carmen Iguina González, deputy director for immigration detention with the ACLU’s National Prison Project. "However, the nightmarish scene found at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ is not wholly unique and reflects systemic patterns of abuse at other ICE detention facilities nationwide."