Florida Shuts Down Alligator Alcatraz Immigration Detention Center

Ron DeSantis announced the permanent closure of the South Florida Detention Facility, colloquially known as Alligator Alcatraz, on June 25, 2026. Located at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee, the $1.2 billion project operated since July 2025 as a state-run facility for federal detainees. The Governor stated the site served its purpose by facilitating nearly 21,000 deportations and improving state safety.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement transferred the remaining detainees to other federal facilities, citing safety risks from hurricane season due to the site's soft-sided structures. However, critics and the Florida Immigrant Coalition questioned this justification, suggesting the closure was actually driven by political shifts and operational costs exceeding $1 million per day. The state also faced challenges in securing full federal reimbursement for the project.

The facility was plagued by lawsuits and reports from Amnesty International regarding inhumane conditions, including sewage leaks and restricted legal access. Environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe filed federal suits alleging the facility damaged the Big Cypress National Preserve and disturbed sacred burial grounds.

Following the shutdown, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava proposed transferring the county-owned land to the National Park Service for permanent Everglades restoration. Governor DeSantis opposed the sale of the airstrip, citing high costs and minimal restoration impact. The site is scheduled to be dismantled over two weeks and will return to use as a pilot training airport.