The notorious 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention center in Florida has seen its detainees relocated to other facilities, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The facility, located in the remote Everglades and previously praised by Donald Trump for its harsh conditions, has been widely expected to close after drawing headlines for brutal treatment since opening last year.
ICE Confirms Transfers
ICE announced on Tuesday that all detainees at the state-run site had been moved, but declined to specify the number of individuals transferred or their destinations. In a statement reported by NBC Miami, the agency cited hurricane season as a reason for the move, stating: 'As we enter into hurricane season, ICE and the state of Florida have moved illegal aliens from the soft sided facility. For the safety of the illegal alien detainees, we transferred them to other facilities.' ICE did not respond to requests for comment from the Guardian.
Human Rights Allegations
The transfers come amid serious allegations of human rights abuses. A December 2025 report by Amnesty International detailed claims that detainees were shackled inside a 2-foot-high metal cage and left outdoors without water for extended periods as a form of arbitrary punishment. One detainee told Amnesty: 'One time, two people in my cell were calling out to the guards telling them that I needed my medication. Ten guards rushed into the cell and threw them to the ground. They were taken to the 'box' and punished just for trying to help me. I saw a guy who was put in it for an entire day.'
Cost and Closure Plans
The facility, which opened in July 2025, costs Florida taxpayers an estimated $1.2 million per day to operate, according to an investigation by the Florida Tributary. In May, the New York Times reported that Florida plans to shut down the center, with state officials informing vendors that detainees would be transferred out by early June. At a press conference last month, Governor Ron DeSantis stated that the state 'didn't build any permanent facilities down there, because we knew it was going to be temporary,' but did not provide a closure timeline.
Additional Allegations
A Guardian report earlier this month revealed that over half a dozen detainees alleged they were given 'rotten' water containing mosquito larvae. They claimed guards used the spoiled water to pressure them into signing English-language documents they could not understand. Stephanie Hartman, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Emergency Management, which oversees the facility, stated: 'Medical facilities and staff, including a pharmacy, are available 24/7 to detainees.'
