Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' Closes Permanently as DeSantis Declares Mission Accomplished, Shifting Focus to Other Detention Sites

On June 25, 2026, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the permanent closure of the temporary immigration detention facility known as 'Alligator Alcatraz' at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Everglades, about 50 miles west of Miami. All detainees had been transferred to other facilities, leaving the site with zero occupants, according to the governor during a press conference attended by federal officials including Border Czar Tom Homan.[1][2]

The facility, hastily constructed in under two weeks in 2025 as a soft-sided tent complex, processed and facilitated the deportation of nearly 21,000 individuals, primarily those with criminal records involving offenses such as sexual battery, drug trafficking, homicide, and cartel activity. DeSantis credited it with removing 'many, many dangerous people' from Florida streets and contributing to the state's role in 40% of immigrant arrests under the Trump administration's second term.[3][4]

The closure was driven by the start of the 2026 hurricane season on June 1, prompting earlier temporary evacuations; state officials described the site as an emergency, temporary measure from the outset. Florida will sustain cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, including operations at the Deportation Depot in Baker County, which has already processed 10,000 individuals.[5]

Critics, including the ACLU of Florida—which had filed lawsuits alleging due process issues and lack of access—welcomed the shutdown, calling it the end of a 'dark record' achieved through litigation and public pressure. The facility faced protests and lawsuits from immigrant rights groups since its opening.[2]

This development signals a pivot in Florida's immigration infrastructure amid ongoing federal-state partnerships, potentially affecting local jobs tied to the temporary site while consolidating operations elsewhere. Homan emphasized continued collaboration, noting record arrests and a 97% reduction in illegal border crossings.