Alligator Alcatraz detention center emptied amid hurricane season

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) transferred all detainees from the “Alligator Alcatraz” facility in the Florida Everglades as the 2026 hurricane season began. The agency said the move was a safety precaution; it did not disclose how many people were moved or their new locations.

Florida officials, including Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, said the center has not been shut down and remains ready to receive new transfers if federal authorities request. Governor Ron DeSantis reiterated that the site was always intended as a temporary solution. Advocacy groups continue to criticize the center’s conditions, citing unsanitary facilities, insect infestations and limited access to legal counsel.

Reports suggest the facility could close later this summer, with contractors reportedly preparing to dismantle parts of the complex. However, the Department of Homeland Security has denied any formal order to close the center and emphasized that Florida remains a key partner in its immigration enforcement strategy. The center, opened in July 2025, has housed up to about 1,400 undocumented migrants and has faced environmental and indigenous‑rights objections since its inception.