In a statement that cast uncertainty over the future of Florida’s most notorious immigration detention center, Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters Thursday that the “Alligator Alcatraz” camp deep in the Everglades was always designed as a temporary operation. The remarks, delivered during a news conference in Lakeland, landed the same morning that The New York Times reported state and federal officials had begun preliminary conversations about winding the facility down.
“At some point, we will, of course, break it down. That was always the goal,” DeSantis said, adding that if the Department of Homeland Security determined it had sufficient resources to house detainees elsewhere, the site would be decommissioned.
The governor linked what he described as a natural sunset to the arrival of a new DHS secretary, Markwayne Mullin, in late March. “You take a fresh look at these things,” DeSantis said, suggesting the idea had been discussed since the leadership change but stopping short of saying DHS officials had formally asked for closure.
DHS pushed back firmly on the notion that it was pressing Florida to cease operations. In a statement issued Thursday, the department said, “Florida continues to be a valuable partner in advancing President Trump’s immigration agenda, and DHS appreciates their support. DHS continuously evaluates detention needs and requirements to ensure they meet the latest operational requirements.”
The back-and-forth about the facility’s status arrives against a backdrop of mounting concerns over conditions inside the camp and its cost to Florida taxpayers. Detainees have reported poor physical conditions and significant obstacles to contacting legal counsel. A handbook disclosed in ongoing litigation describes a disciplinary regime in which detainees are forbidden from moving or speaking during head counts; violations can result in lockdowns for entire dormitories.
According to DeSantis, the facility has processed and deported roughly 22,000 people since opening last summer. The state’s operating costs have exceeded $1 million per day, and Florida has formally requested $608 million in federal reimbursement. The governor said Thursday that none of that money has yet been paid.