Ochopee, Florida – August 28, 2025, Florida’s infamous “Alligator Alcatraz,” the makeshift immigration detention center in the remote Everglades, is set to be cleared of all detainees within the next few days, according to a state official from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM). The announcement comes amid ongoing legal battles and widespread criticism of the facility’s conditions, environmental impact, and overall operation, which was hastily built in June to support the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts. With a federal judge’s injunction in place since late August, the site’s closure signals a potential end to what critics have called a “dehumanizing experiment” in immigration enforcement.
The facility, officially known as the South Florida Detention Facility, was constructed at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport—a largely abandoned airstrip in the Big Cypress National Preserve—using emergency powers invoked by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier for its swampy surroundings teeming with alligators and pythons, it was marketed as a natural deterrent to escapes and a quick-response hub for detaining up to 3,000 migrants, expandable to 5,000. The site opened in early July after just eight days of construction, featuring tent structures, chain-link cages, barbed wire, and security cameras, at an estimated annual cost of $450 million—partially reimbursable by FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program.
FDEM spokesperson Kevin Guthrie confirmed the impending evacuation in a statement to reporters on August 27, stating, “Due to the recent court ruling and operational considerations, all remaining detainees will be transferred to alternative facilities in the coming days. The site will comply fully with the injunction while ensuring the safety and processing of individuals under our care.” As of August 28, fewer than 500 detainees remain at the center, down from a peak of around 700 in mid-July, following rapid transfers prompted by the legal order. Transfers are being coordinated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to other state and federal sites, though specifics on destinations were not disclosed.
The closure follows a preliminary injunction issued on August 22 by U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams in Miami, which halted further construction, expansions, and transfers of new detainees to the site. The ruling, stemming from lawsuits by environmental groups like Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, as well as the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, cited violations of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Plaintiffs argued that the facility’s rapid build-out—paving over 20 acres, installing generators, sewage systems, and high-intensity lighting—threatened the fragile Everglades ecosystem, endangered species, and sacred tribal lands without proper environmental reviews. The judge ordered the removal of waste and infrastructure within 60 days once the population allows for safe implementation, effectively forcing a wind-down.
Human rights organizations, including the ACLU of Florida and Americans for Immigrant Justice, have also sued, alleging First and Fifth Amendment violations, including interference with legal access and inhumane conditions. Detainees reported being held in sweltering tents with constant fluorescent lighting, mosquito infestations, inadequate food (one meal a day with maggots), infrequent showers, and limited medical care—conditions likened to “torture” and compared to historical concentration camps. Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Maxwell Frost, were denied entry during inspections, calling it a “blatant abuse of power.” Protests from environmentalists, Native American tribes, and immigrant advocates highlighted risks during hurricane season and the facility’s location on culturally significant land.
The project was a flagship of the Trump administration’s immigration agenda, toured by President Trump, Gov. DeSantis, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in early July. Trump praised it as a model for other states, joking about alligators as “cops” to deter escapes, while DeSantis positioned Florida as a leader in enforcement under the 287(g) program. Republican supporters, including the Florida GOP, even sold branded merchandise to fundraise off the name. However, the state seized the county-owned land for $20 million—far below its $190 million appraisal—sparking additional lawsuits over eminent domain.
Florida officials plan to appeal the injunction, with Attorney General Uthmeier calling it a “temporary setback” in a statement. “This facility was built to enforce the law and protect our communities; we’ll fight to keep it operational,” he said. Environmental groups hailed the ruling as a “major victory,” emphasizing the need to restore the site. As detainees are relocated—potentially straining other ICE facilities already at 140% capacity nationwide—the closure raises questions about the future of similar projects in states like Louisiana and Texas.
On X, reactions ranged from celebrations by activists—”Finally, justice for the Everglades and detainees!”—to frustration from supporters decrying it as “activist judge overreach.” The saga of “Alligator Alcatraz” underscores the heated national debate over immigration enforcement, environmental protections, and human rights in the Trump era.