Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the Everglades immigration detention center would close permanently on June 25, 2026 [1].
The shutdown of the facility marks the end of a high-profile project that became a focal point for immigration policy debates. Its closure follows nearly a year of operational controversy [1, 2].
Built under former President Donald Trump, the center was located in the Everglades region of Florida [1, 2]. The facility, which earned the nickname "Alligator Alcatraz," cost $1 billion to build [1].
The center operated for nearly a year before the decision to close the site was finalized [1]. At the time of the closure, the facility held zero detainees [1].
DeSantis said the site would be shut down permanently [1]. The decision follows a period of intense scrutiny regarding the management, and purpose, of the high-cost camp [1, 2].
“The Everglades immigration detention center, nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz," was permanently shut down.”
The closure of a $1 billion facility after less than a year of operation suggests a significant shift in state or federal immigration strategy. The decision to shutter a high-cost asset built by a previous administration highlights the volatility of infrastructure projects tied to specific political eras and the financial impact of policy reversals.
