US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has relocated all detainees from Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration jail in the Everglades. The move comes amid allegations of severe human rights abuses and harsh conditions at the facility, which was widely expected to close.
The relocation of detainees from the controversial "Alligator Alcatraz" facility marks a significant development amid widespread allegations of human rights abuses and potentially signals the facility's closure, addressing concerns over detainee safety and conditions.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced the relocation of all detainees from Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration jail, a facility in the remote Everglades known for its harsh conditions. The agency stated the move was for the safety of detainees as hurricane season approaches.
The "soft-sided facility," which opened in July 2025, had attracted significant criticism and headlines for alleged brutal treatment. Amnesty International reported in December 2025 that detainees were subjected to arbitrary punishment, including being shackled in a small outdoor cage without water for extended periods. Detainees also alleged receiving "rotten" water and being pressured to sign documents they did not understand.
The facility's operation was estimated to cost Florida taxpayers $1.2 million per day. Reports from May indicated that state officials had informed vendors of plans to transfer detainees out by early June, with Governor Ron DeSantis previously acknowledging the facility was temporary.
ICE confirmed the transfers but did not specify the number of detainees or their new locations. A spokesperson for the Florida department of emergency management stated that medical facilities and staff are available 24/7 to detainees.