Detainees At ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Expected To Hit Zero In Days

The state-run migrant detention center known informally as “Alligator Alcatraz” is set to be emptied within days, according to an internal update from Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie. The rapid wind-down follows a federal court order mandating the facility’s full shutdown and dismantling within 60 days.

Guthrie’s message, sent to relevant state agencies, noted that the number of detainees at the Everglades site is expected to reach zero “within a few days,” as Florida complies — at least for now — with the federal injunction.

Judge: Environmental Harm, Tribal Violations Justify Emergency Shutdown

The shutdown stems from a ruling issued last week by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams. In an 82-page opinion, Williams concluded that the facility’s rushed construction threatens to cause irreversible damage to the Everglades ecosystem, citing serious environmental violations and risks to protected species.

The order bars any new detainees from being transferred to the site and gives the state 60 days to remove all infrastructure — including fencing, lighting systems, and portable generators.

The lawsuit was brought by a coalition of environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, which alleged that the detention center violated both federal environmental protections and tribal land rights.

State Pushes Back, Citing Federal Border Failures

Governor Ron DeSantis and his administration have pushed back against the ruling and signaled plans to appeal. He has consistently framed the facility as a temporary emergency measure, arguing it is necessary because of Washington’s prolonged failure to secure the southern border under the Biden administration.

The DeSantis administration has maintained that the detention site was lawful under emergency powers and necessary to manage surging numbers of illegal border crossings affecting the state.

Even as he vows to fight the ruling, state authorities are being forced to rapidly clear out the facility, a Department of Homeland Security source told the New York Post on condition of anonymity.

The current detainee population sits at just 100, the source said.

DHS lawyers asked for a stay of Williams’ order from last week while they appeal on the grounds the judge unlawfully interfered with the administration’s prerogative to fight illegal immigration.

But Williams — an appointee of President Barack Obama — reiterated her findings from her earlier ruling, saying the feds provided “no new evidence or argument about the particular dangerousness of the detainee population … or the need for a detention facility in this particular location.”

Her ruling added that “immigration enforcement goals will not be thwarted by a pause in operations.”

At its peak, the facility held 2,000 detainees and was already expanding to house as many as 4,000.

Facility Faced Scrutiny From the Start

Built on a decommissioned airfield deep in the Florida Everglades, the facility was opened in early July.

From the outset, the site drew criticism over detainee conditions and environmental impact. Legal challenges followed quickly, culminating in last week’s injunction.

Environmental advocates and tribal leaders have hailed the court’s decision as a major win. Meanwhile, state officials are preparing for a legal battle and are evaluating alternate sites for future detention operations.

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