The administration of US President Donald Trump has announced the closure of the controversial 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigrant detention facility in Florida. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed on Wednesday that all detainees have been transferred to other facilities, citing the start of the Atlantic hurricane season.
DHS spokesperson Lauren Bis stated that the transfer was done for the safety of the detainees, but did not specify the number of people moved or their destinations. The statement also left unclear whether the facility is permanently closed, though reports of its impending shutdown had circulated for months.
Alligator Alcatraz, named after the infamous Alcatraz Island prison, was announced on June 19, 2025, and opened in July 2025. It was touted as a temporary facility where the surrounding swamps would deter escapes. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier famously said, 'If people get out, there’s not much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons.'
President Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis toured the facility upon its opening. However, the center faced immediate backlash from Indigenous leaders of the Miccosukee and Seminole nations, who opposed its construction near sacred sites. Lawyers and rights groups also questioned the adequacy of temporary units against South Florida's extreme weather.
Over its year of operation, Alligator Alcatraz became the subject of lawsuits and human rights complaints. Detainees reported denial of legal access, medical neglect, and food contaminated with worms. The government announced plans to transfer detainees in May.
Amy Godshall, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), called the transfer 'an important step' but stressed that 'it does not erase the harm that has already been done.' She urged the permanent closure of the facility, which was designed to hold up to 3,000 people. The closure coincides with the first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, Tropical Storm Arthur.
Source: www.aljazeera.com