Key facts
- Detainees at Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' migrant detention center have been relocated.
- The relocation is due to the start of hurricane season.
- The facility, which housed an average of 1,400 detainees, remains open but is temporary.
- ICE is part of the Department of Homeland Security and President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has relocated detainees from Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" migrant detention center as the state enters hurricane season. An ICE spokesperson confirmed the move, stating that the soft-sided facility was emptied due to the seasonal weather risks. Kevin Guthrie, Florida's top emergency management official, noted that while the center remains open, it was always designed as a temporary structure. He indicated he had not seen ICE's statement prior to its press reporting. Statistics from ICE show the facility held an average of approximately 1,400 detainees between October 1, 2025, and early April. The New York Times had previously reported in May that Florida intended to close the controversial federal migrant detention center. ICE, a component of the Department of Homeland Security, has been central to President Donald Trump's stringent immigration enforcement measures, which have drawn criticism from rights groups for alleged violations of free speech and due process, and concerns about racial profiling. Supporters of the crackdown, including Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, assert its purpose is to reduce illegal immigration and enhance national security.