Alligator Alcatraz, the most notorious immigration detention center in Florida, is preparing to shut down. A federal district court order has required its closure. The new facility opened for business on July 1. Initially set up in a rush in late June on a former airstrip, some 50 miles west of Miami, Former President Donald Trump was the first to market it as a detention center. The facility was initially planned to detain up to 3,000 undocumented immigrants waiting for deportation.
From the beginning, Alligator Alcatraz has been under constant fire from the start by watchdog organizations and legal scholars. It’s no wonder so many lawsuits have been filed against it to seek its closure. This wave of litigation arises from shocking allegations about the condition and treatment of detainees. Most people detained at the facility had allegedly committed no crimes and faced no lawsuits or criminal charges. These are serious issues that make the legality and ethics of their detention troubling at best.
Detainees at Alligator Alcatraz regularly endured months without being charged. In other instances, they disappeared entirely from the online national locator operated by the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). There was a troubling lack of upfront custody or bond decisions for people detained. This unbearable situation led to a tremendous wave of public anger.
Perhaps the most important breakthrough occurred when federal court judge Kathleen Williams ordered the removal of Alligator Alcatraz. In turn, Florida’s GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration quickly responded by releasing plans to appeal this ruling. State officials signed contracts totaling more than $245 million for facility construction and operation, even the state’s contract with the private operator. This monumental investment has wide-ranging effects, creating greater scrutiny and discussion regarding its fiscal impact.
The state’s order to close Alligator Alcatraz will only worsen the situation, as closure will often result in Alligator Alcatraz emptying within just days. Kevin Guthrie, Florida’s chief of staff for the Department of Transportation, expressed confidence that this timeline was realistic.
“We are probably going to be down to 0 individuals within a few days.” – Kevin Guthrie
Maxwell Frost, the new member of Congress, recently took a tour of the facility. During his visit, he testified that there were only 300 to 350 detainees left in Alligator Alcatraz. This figure is significantly lower than the facility’s capacity and suggests a rapid decline in occupancy in light of the court’s decision.
During its short-lived operation, Alligator Alcatraz came to represent larger discussions around the state of U.S. immigration policy. Advocates have long criticized the institution as a byword for the dehumanizing effects of aggressive immigration enforcement strategies. Former President Trump even referred to these same people as “the most vicious animals on earth.” Many advocates were quick to criticize this statement, seeing his language as a harmful mischaracterization that strips those hurt of their humanity.