Florida Alligator Alcatraz Detention Facility Expected Empty Amid Federal Court Closure Order

Florida's controversial Everglades immigration detention facility, nicknamed 'Alligator Alcatraz,' is set to be emptied within days following a federal judge's order to dismantle the site by late October. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ruled that the facility's construction and operations violated environmental laws, causing harm to surrounding wetlands and endangered species, and prohibited further use pending compliance. Despite legal appeals by the state led by Gov. Ron DeSantis, emails from Florida's Division of Emergency Management indicate the detainee population is rapidly declining to zero. The facility, opened recently under the Trump administration with capacity for thousands, faced criticism over detention conditions and environmental impact, with lawsuits filed by environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe. The state argues the need for detention space amid overcrowding elsewhere, while opponents highlight the unlawful environmental damage and questionable detainee treatment. This legal and political conflict underscores the broader tensions between immigration enforcement policies and environmental and human rights concerns.