Florida announces closure of Alligator Alcatraz after 1 year

Key Points:

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the closure of the Everglades detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz, citing its fulfillment of its intended role in detaining over 20,000 immigration offenders, including serious criminals, and enhancing state safety.
• The facility, established last summer on a seized Miami-Dade airport under emergency powers, faced criticism for high costs, environmental damage, and inhumane conditions, with environmental groups suing over violations related to the surrounding Everglades wetlands.
• Despite the closure announcement, no exact timeline was given for returning the property to Miami-Dade County, whose mayor expressed interest in transferring the land to the National Park Service for Everglades restoration.
• The detention center's population had steadily decreased over months, with remaining detainees transferred elsewhere; advocates welcomed the closure but expressed concerns about the disruption to detainees' immigration court proceedings.
• The state continues to operate another immigration detention facility, Baker Correctional Institution, and discussions are ongoing to enhance Florida's role in immigration enforcement; environmental groups vow to continue legal action to address alleged ecological harm from the Alligator Alcatraz site.