The immigration detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” was inaugurated in July 2025 in the Big Cypress National Preserve, west of Miami. Its name, inspired by the local alligators and the Alcatraz prison, emerged as part of the deportation policies promoted in Florida.
PUBLICIDAD
However, a court order was recently issued ordering the closure of the prison within 60 days and its dismantling.
PUBLICIDAD
They are asking to close the migrant detention center
Judge Kathleen Williams ordered that no more migrants be sent to Alligator Alcatraz due to the environmental issues that arise in Florida. Therefore, she also required the dismantling of fences and lighting, and the directive not to rebuild on the site.
Although the US state can appeal this request, the judge pointed out that the prison facility was built without an environmental review of the location. This legal process has caused a lot of controversy for opposing the harsh policies of President Donald Trump and in Florida, a state that has supported its implementation.
What is Alligator Alcatraz?
Conceived as a large-scale temporary installation, it opened with a capacity for 2,000 migrants and the projection to accommodate up to 5,000. The complex was rapidly built at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition airport.
It is composed of tents, trailers, and temporary structures, with portable toilets, generators, intense lighting, and paved surfaces on the natural terrain. State authorities defended its location by arguing that the fauna in the area acted as a “natural barrier” against escapes.
Several environmental groups denounced that the installation was built without ecological impact studies. In addition, human rights organizations and journalistic reports warned about precarious conditions for detainees: extreme heat, mosquito infestations, bathroom failures, and limited access to lawyers.