Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Thursday the closure of the makeshift immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz.” The facility, which opened in July 2025, was always intended to be a temporary measure until more permanent federal detention centers could be secured. DeSantis stated that federal officials now possess the necessary capacity to manage detentions.
“We stepped up because there was a gap, but my hope is that they’ll be able to handle that,” DeSantis said at a news conference held at the facility. Officials had previously announced a temporary closure earlier in June, relocating all detainees to other facilities due to concerns about hurricane season safety.
Immigration advocates have been critical of the center, describing its conditions as unsafe and inhumane. Detainees reported difficulties accessing legal counsel and described poor living conditions, including issues with food quality, non-functioning toilets, flooded floors, and pervasive insect problems. Advocates also noted that the center’s tents, surrounded by chain-link cages, often suffered from air conditioning failures in the heat, and detainees faced delays in showering or receiving prescription medication.
The Florida Immigrant Coalition stated that the closure does not address the broader harm to individuals held in custody and their families, and that corporations and contractors profited from the situation. The center, constructed rapidly by DeSantis’ administration, was promoted by both DeSantis and former President Donald Trump as crucial for deporting undocumented immigrants.
DeSantis asserted that the facility enhanced Florida's safety, with 21,000 individuals deported through it. White House border czar Tom Homan indicated that Florida would continue to play a significant role in immigration enforcement through other detention centers, stating, “This isn’t the end of the relationship. This is a continuation.”
Attorneys for detainees reported that their clients were moved to facilities in South Florida, California, Arizona, Louisiana, and Texas earlier in June, with information about their whereabouts provided to legal representatives and families only after a delay.
The airstrip in the Everglades where the facility was located will continue to be utilized, according to DeSantis. Environmental groups had filed lawsuits concerning the detention center, alleging that proper permits and environmental impact reviews were not obtained. An attorney for Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity stated that legal action would continue to ensure accountability for environmental damage, regardless of the site's closure.