Alligator Alcatraz Detention Center Empties as Hurricane Season Approaches

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said on Thursday that all detainees have been transferred out of the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility in Florida ahead of the upcoming hurricane season. A DHS spokesperson stated, "As we enter into hurricane season, ICE and the state of Florida have moved illegal aliens from the soft‑sided facility," and the detainees were relocated to other ICE sites for safety.

Florida officials noted the structure can only withstand Category 1 hurricane winds and that there was "never, ever an intent to leave individuals at that facility, even in a tropical storm," said Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The 3,000‑bed center, opened in 2024 on a decommissioned airstrip in the Everglades, has faced lawsuits over unsanitary conditions, excessive force, and environmental damage. Rising operational costs—projected to exceed $1 billion—have spurred moves toward permanent closure, with the state seeking $608 million in federal reimbursement. Governor Ron DeSantis has described the site as a temporary measure and indicated that full demobilization was planned.