Miami, Florida — Florida officials are preparing to close the migrant detention center nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” citing rising operating costs and uncertainty over federal reimbursement payments.
According to The New York Times, vendors working at the Everglades facility were informed Tuesday that approximately 1,400 detainees are expected to be transferred or deported before the site closes in early June. Contractors were also told to begin dismantling temporary infrastructure, including trailers and fencing.
Gov. Ron DeSantis launched the detention center in July 2025 as part of Florida’s expanded immigration enforcement efforts during President Donald Trump’s second administration. The remote Everglades location quickly became a symbol of the administration’s aggressive immigration strategy and drew legal challenges from immigrant-rights groups and environmental concerns from critics.
Officials say operating costs have climbed close to $1 billion, with the state reportedly spending more than $1 million per day to maintain the facility. Florida has already received hundreds of millions in federal reimbursements but is still awaiting additional payments tied to ongoing expenses.
Once closed, the site is expected to return to standard airport operations. The shutdown reflects growing debate over the financial and logistical costs of large-scale detention operations tied to immigration enforcement.
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