Florida returns Alligator Alcatraz detention site to Miami-Dade

The state of Florida has returned the land used for the controversial migrant detention center, Alligator Alcatraz, to Miami-Dade County. The facility, which operated for approximately one year near the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, served as a central hub for the mass deportation campaign initiated by the Trump administration.

During its operation, the center faced significant criticism and legal challenges. Human rights organizations filed lawsuits alleging inhumane treatment of detainees, while environmentalists raised concerns regarding damage to the sensitive wetlands near Everglades National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Local Seminole and Miccosukee tribes also denounced the facility as a threat to their sacred lands.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis noted that the center facilitated approximately 30,000 deportations. However, the facility was ultimately closed due to high operational costs, reportedly exceeding $1 million per day, leaving a significant debt for taxpayers. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava stated that the county is now awaiting repairs from the state administration to address environmental damage caused to the airstrip and surrounding ecosystem.