Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' Immigration Detention Center to Shut Down After Less Than a Year, DeSantis Confirms

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed Thursday that the immigration detention center nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” — a tent camp erected in the heart of the Everglades — is shutting down after less than a year of operation.

DeSantis, a Republican, said the facility was always intended to be a temporary measure, adding that federal authorities now have sufficient capacity to manage detention and deportations through more permanent locations. “It served its purpose for the time,” he said.

The facility, built in a matter of days in early 2025 under DeSantis’ direction, was a centerpiece of the state’s aggressive immigration enforcement push. President Donald Trump visited the site, underscoring its political significance. According to DeSantis, some 21,000 individuals were deported from the camp.

But the closure was preceded by a temporary shutdown earlier in June, when officials cited the onset of hurricane season as making the isolated airstrip facility unsafe for detainees. All those held there had already been transferred to other facilities.

Immigrant advocates and civil rights groups have criticized the camp since its inception, calling it both unsafe and inhumane. Detainees described a grim reality: worms in the food, toilets that wouldn’t flush, floors flooded with human waste, and swarms of mosquitoes and other insects. Many also reported difficulty accessing legal representation, raising due process concerns.

The closure marks the end of a contentious chapter in Florida’s debate over immigration enforcement. While supporters argued the facility helped fast-track removals during a spike in border crossings, opponents point to the episode as a cautionary tale about hastily built detention infrastructure. With no long-term replacement for “Alligator Alcatraz” announced, the focus now shifts to how the state and federal governments will manage the thousands of detainees who would have passed through its gates.