MIAMI — Florida has begun dismantling its controversial state-run immigration detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz" in the Everglades, with crews starting demobilization work this week after all detainees were transferred out.
Vendors operating the facility in Ochopee received instructions on Monday from state emergency management officials to begin full demobilization of tents, fences, trailers and other structures, according to multiple sources familiar with the process. The move signals the permanent closure of the center, which opened in July 2025.
The facility, formally the South Florida Detention Facility at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Big Cypress National Preserve, was established as a state-run site to hold federal immigration detainees. It faced ongoing criticism over its remote location, environmental impact on the Everglades, and reported conditions.
Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie informed contractors of the demobilization directive during a conference call, sources told CBS News Miami and The New York Times. All detainees had been transferred to other facilities in recent days, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The center carried a high operational cost, with state records indicating spending of more than $1 million per day at times. Officials had previously described the project as temporary.
Governor Ron DeSantis, who supported the facility's creation, had stated earlier that it was intended as a short-term measure due to federal capacity constraints. "When we opened it in the summer of 2025, it was always intended to be temporary," DeSantis said in May.
Environmental groups and immigration advocates welcomed the closure, citing concerns about harm to the ecosystem and conditions at the site. Lawsuits related to the facility's operations and environmental effects remain ongoing.
As of Thursday, state officials had not issued a detailed public statement on the closure timeline or final costs. Significant progress on dismantling was expected by mid-week, according to instructions to vendors. Details on the total expenditure and any federal reimbursement remained unclear.
The closure comes nearly a year after the facility opened to much attention as part of efforts to support federal immigration enforcement.
