What is the Alligator Alcatraz? Inside Florida’s controversial migrant detention center
President Trump, Ron DeSantis and Kristi Noem at “Alligator Alcatraz” in July. Credit: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP-Getty Images
Alligator Alcatraz, officially named the South Florida Detention Facility, is a migrant detention center constructed in July 2025 at the remote Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Florida Everglades. Nicknamed for its reptile-filled surroundings and intended scale, the site was established to house up to 2,000 migrants, with plans to expand to 5,000 detainees. The facility was rapidly developed under emergency powers by the DeSantis administration, in partnership with the federal Department of Homeland Security, to manage escalating deportation operations.
Legal Backlash: Judge Halts Expansion and New Admissions
On August 21, 2025, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued a preliminary injunction blocking further expansion of the facility, including the addition of tents, lighting, or other infrastructure, and banned the admission of new detainees. The court ordered the removal of temporary infrastructure such as fencing, generators, lighting, and sewage systems within 60 days, mandating the transfer of existing detainees to other facilities.
Environmental and Legal Concerns Driving Opposition
The lawsuit against Alligator Alcatraz was led by environmental advocacy groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, who assert that the project violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by bypassing mandatory assessments and public input. They warned that the facility threatened vital Florida Everglades ecosystems and endangered species while ignoring escalation risks to wetlands and tribal lands.
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State Pushback and Political Context
The Trump and DeSantis administrations have defended the center as a key tool in handling migrant flows, with President Trump endorsing it and DeSantis calling it a model for future detention sites. Florida officials have contended that federal environmental laws like NEPA do not apply, arguing the site operates under state authority. The state has filed an immediate appeal, contesting the scope of federal judicial oversight.
Broader Implications: Future of Immigration and Environmental Law
Alligator Alcatraz has become a national flashpoint, crystallizing tensions between aggressive immigration enforcement, especially in states aligned with national policy, and environmental and civil-rights protections. The judge’s ruling may set a precedent requiring future detention or deportation facilities in ecologically vulnerable zones to undergo thorough environmental review and public scrutiny.
Alligator Alcatraz in the Balance
Although dubbed a “deportation hub,” Alligator Alcatraz now faces a legal reckoning, and likely closure, barred from new detainees and expansion under court order. Its fate underscores the complex balance between immigration policy and environmental accountability, marking a pivotal moment for oversight, transparency, and justice in contentious public infrastructure.