Florida Governor Confirms Deportation of Hundreds From Controversial ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detention Camp
Ron DeSantis says most detainees were relocated, with at least 100 deported from the U.S.
Florida has begun deporting individuals from the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility, Governor Ron DeSantis announced, adding that removals are expected to ramp up in the coming weeks.
Speaking at a press conference held at the remote detention site in the Everglades, DeSantis stated that “hundreds of illegals” had been removed from the camp, though he later clarified that most were transferred to other facilities across the U.S. He confirmed that 100 individuals had been deported.
“I’m pleased to report that deportation flights operated by the Department of Homeland Security have begun departing from Alligator Alcatraz,” DeSantis said. “The cadence is increasing—we’ve already seen several flights, and hundreds have been removed.” He added: “We expect that number to rise steadily.”
Officials reported that two to three deportation flights have taken off so far, though they did not disclose the destinations.
Last week, several nonprofit and advocacy groups called for the immediate closure of the facility, which sits in a remote stretch of the Everglades, roughly 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of Miami.
Immigrant rights advocates have described conditions at the site as inhumane. Detainees are allegedly packed into overcrowded pods, denied medical care, and forced to sleep in flood-prone tents. Reports also cite raw sewage flooding detention areas due to frequent plumbing failures, leaving cages submerged in feces.
The camp, spanning 39 acres, was rapidly constructed in early July and now holds over 1,000 men. Despite official claims, many of those detained have no criminal records or pending charges. Originally described by Donald Trump as a place to house “deranged psychopaths” and “some of the most vicious people on the planet,” internal documents revealed earlier this month indicate that a large number of detainees were taken into custody solely on immigration violations.
Democratic lawmakers have since filed a lawsuit against the DeSantis administration, demanding independent access to inspect the facility.
Kevin Guthrie, head of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said the site currently has capacity for 2,000 detainees and will soon expand to accommodate 4,000. Guthrie defended the camp’s conditions, saying, “Whether by Florida’s standards or national detention benchmarks, we meet or exceed the higher standard.”
The facility’s harsh conditions and hostile environment have become a point of pride for some conservative officials. Located in a swampy region inhabited by alligators, crocodiles, invasive pythons, and thick clouds of mosquitoes, the site has been framed by proponents as both remote and deliberately unforgiving. Officials have even embraced the “Alligator Alcatraz” nickname, a reference to the infamous Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay.
