FBI halts transfer of detainees to Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention center in Collier

FBI halts transfer of detainees to Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention center in Collier

The FBI has temporarily halted the transfer of detainees to the controversial Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention center in Collier County, Florida. The decision follows a federal judge's order to wind down operations at the facility, with the last detainee needing to be out within 60 days [1].

The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has confirmed that the facility will likely be empty within a few days [2]. The news comes as the state and federal governments continue to fight the judge's order to shutter the facility. The judge's ruling was based on a lawsuit filed by environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, who argued that the facility threatened environmentally sensitive wetlands [1].

The detention center, officially opened on July 1, 2025, was built at a lightly used, single-runway training airport in the middle of the rugged and remote Everglades. It has been the subject of lawsuits and complaints about unsanitary conditions [1]. The state of Florida has appealed the judge's decision and requested a stay of the order, citing overcrowding at detention facilities in the state [1].

The FBI's halt in transfers is part of the ongoing legal battle over the facility's operations. The state and federal governments have argued that the Everglades facility's thousands of beds are badly needed, while environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe have disputed this need [1].

The detention center was built rapidly at a cost of over $245 million, and its operations have been overseen by the FDEM. The facility's construction and operations have been the subject of criticism and controversy, with some arguing that it was built too quickly and without proper environmental review [1].

The FBI's decision to halt transfers to Alligator Alcatraz is a significant development in the ongoing legal and political battle over immigration detention in Florida. The facility's future remains uncertain, as the state and federal governments continue to appeal the judge's order and argue for its continued operation [1].

References:
[1] https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2025/08/27/email-from-top-florida-official---alligator-alcatraz--will-likely-be-empty-soon
[2] https://abcnews.go.com/US/immigration-facility-alligator-alcatraz-detainees-days-florida-official/story?id=125039860