Florida to Close Alligator Alcatraz Detention Center Over Costs

Florida will dismantle the Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention center in the Everglades as early as June 2026. Opened in July 2025 to support the mass deportation efforts of Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump, the facility housed approximately 1,400 to 1,500 detainees. The closure follows a determination by the Department of Homeland Security that the facility's high operational costs—exceeding $1 million per day—outweighed its effectiveness.

Total expenses for the site reached an estimated $1.1 billion. While the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently approved an initial $58.3 million reimbursement, Florida continues to seek more than $600 million in promised federal funds. Governor DeSantis defended the project, claiming it helped deport 22,000 people and saved taxpayers money on social services, while maintaining the facility was always intended to be temporary.

The site faced intense criticism over inhumane conditions and environmental damage to the Big Cypress National Preserve. Conservation groups, including Friends of the Everglades, filed lawsuits over the lack of required environmental reviews. The decision to wind down operations coincides with the case returning to U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, who had previously ordered the facility closed in August 2025. Detainees are expected to be relocated by early June to avoid the start of hurricane season.