ICE Transfers Detainees from ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Due to Hurricane Concerns

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has relocated detainees from ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ in Florida’s Everglades. The decision, prompted by safety concerns related to the hurricane season, was confirmed by an ICE spokesperson.

The spokesperson stated, “For the safety of the illegal alien detainees, we transferred them to other facilities.” Last month, CBS News Miami reported that companies managing Alligator Alcatraz were informed of the facility’s shutdown plans, with about 1,400 detainees set to be moved.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin shared with CBS News that while closing the facility isn’t planned in the near future, plans exist for emergencies like wildfires or hurricanes to evacuate detainees.

Alligator Alcatraz, built on an unused airstrip in the Everglades, opened last year to expand ICE’s detention capacity during the Trump administration. The facility features air-conditioned tents with bunk beds and chain-link cells, serving as a cost-effective model for other state-created centers. Some officials suggested its austere conditions could deter illegal immigration.

Criticism from immigration activists, environmental groups, and a local Native American tribe arose due to alleged inhumane conditions. Concerns highlighted poor food, non-functional toilets, and limited attorney access. The Trump administration, however, denied these claims about the detention center’s inadequate conditions.