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Florida Officials Plan Deconstruction of $1.1B Alligator Alcatraz Facility by June

Officials announce plans to shutter and deconstruct Alligator Alcatraz, a 39-acre, $1.1 billion detention facility in the Florida Everglades, by June.

By Colin Percy · May 21, 2026

The controversial detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz is reportedly slated for closure and deconstruction, with the transfer of approximately 1,400 detainees expected by June 2026. Constructed on a 39-acre remote airstrip in the Big Cypress National Preserve, the project has faced significant public scrutiny, legal challenges regarding its environmental impact, and rising operational costs that Florida officials estimate will reach $1.1 billion by June.

While the state has incurred at least $460 million in costs for this site and the nearby Deportation Depot near Jacksonville, the facility has relied on federal grant support, including a $608 million allocation through FEMA that was temporarily frozen pending environmental compliance reviews. Despite claims of limited impact on the surrounding ecosystem, the project has remained the subject of ongoing litigation and federal oversight since its inception in 2025.

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FEMA

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Florida Division of Emergency Management

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Department of Homeland Security

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