Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center to close as soon as June, sources say
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- The Alligator Alcatraz detention center in Florida is set to close, with the remaining 1,400 detainees expected to be removed by June, according to sources and state officials.
- The closure is primarily due to escalating operating costs, which have reached nearly $1 billion, far exceeding initial estimates and raising concerns about state taxpayer burdens.
- The facility, opened in July 2025 and funded by state tax money, was initially expected to be reimbursed by the federal government for $608 million, but additional costs of around $300 million may not be covered.
- After detainees are removed, the site will be demobilized over two to three weeks and repurposed as a small airport for pilot training.
- Critics, including U.S. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost, have condemned the facility for inhumane conditions and wasteful spending, calling for accountability as the detention center shuts down.