Florida Could Lose $218 Million Following Court Order to Shut Down “Alligator Alcatraz”

The state of Florida could face losses of $218 million after a federal court ordered the reduction of operations and temporary closure of the immigrant detention center “Alligator Alcatraz,” located in the Everglades.

The decision was issued by federal judge Kathleen Williams, who determined that state and federal authorities failed to comply with federal environmental law, halting the operation of the facility, which had been inaugurated on July 1, 2025.

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The center, built in record time, is already being emptied of detainees and faces multiple civil rights lawsuits and questions over its sanitary conditions.

Construction and Costs of the Center

• Initial state investment: $218 million.
• Supplier contracts: $405 million signed.
• Estimated operating cost: $450 million annually.
• Funds already allocated: At least $245 million through July 2025.
• Expenses on basic infrastructure: $50 million on bathrooms and common areas.

The center was erected in just a few days on a former training airport and features chain-link cages, large white tents, and rows of bunk beds.

The Court Ruling

Federal judge Kathleen Williams rejected requests from the state government and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to suspend her order reducing operations.

Her ruling was based on three key points:

• Lack of environmental review: The center was built without complying with regulations on the impact to the protected wetlands of the Everglades.
• Protection of local ecosystems: The judge sided with environmental groups and the Miccosukee tribe, who had filed the lawsuit.
• Guarantee of human rights: She determined that reducing operations would not affect federal immigration enforcement objectives.

“The number of detainees is already decreasing, and the federal government’s immigration enforcement goals will not be frustrated,” Williams stated.

Conditions and Criticism of the Center

“Alligator Alcatraz” has been the subject of strong complaints for:

• Unsanitary conditions: Reports of broken toilets, flooded floors, and fecal waste.
• Isolated detainees: Cases reported where individuals had no access to the legal system.
• Lack of transparency: DHS has not disclosed how many immigrants remain at the center or how many have been transferred.

Activists like Jessica Namath have documented the gradual reduction of operations, evidenced by the removal of metal structures and tents.

Legal and Political Repercussions

• DHS announced it is complying with the court order and relocating detainees to other facilities.
• The White House is considering an appeal to keep the facility operational.
• Republican states: 22 states petitioned the appellate court to overturn the order, arguing that federal environmental laws do not apply to Florida.
• Governor Ron DeSantis: His administration is preparing to open a second detention center called “Deportation Depot” in northern Florida.
• Ongoing lawsuits: Civil rights organizations maintain three legal processes over alleged violations of detainees’ rights.

Next Steps

• DHS and the Florida government are seeking an appellate court ruling to overturn the closure order.
• In the meantime, detainees are being transferred and the facilities vacated.
• It has not yet been decided whether the federal government will provide funds to support part of the operation.

From: https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2025/08/29/eeuu/alligator-alcatraz-florida-perder-usd-218-millones-trax 

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