Environmental groups face hurdles in lawsuit against ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ construction

The lawsuit claims construction of the center violates a federal law requiring analysis of potential environmental harms

by Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix July 21, 2025July 26, 2025

News

DeSantis defends construction at Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz amid legal battle

The state has a $37 million contract that includes funding for permanent and temporary fencing and roadway construction

by Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix July 21, 2025August 6, 2025

News

Immigrants held at Florida Everglades’ detention center are suing the Trump and DeSantis administrations

The complaint details conditions detainees have described at the site, ranging from flooding and having to go days without showering to guards’ excessive use of force

by Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix July 18, 2025August 18, 2025

News

Orange County rejects plan for local jail staff to transport ICE detainees to Alligator Alcatraz

The county is also eyeing potential modifications to its agreement with ICE after sustained pressure from immigrant rights advocates.

by McKenna Schueler July 16, 2025August 23, 2025

News

More detention centers like Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz will be built by states flush with cash, experts predict

Former Department of Homeland Security officials expect to see a trend toward states building ‘soft’ temporary detention centers

by Ariana Figueroa, The Florida Phoenix July 16, 2025August 21, 2025

News

Miccosukee Tribe of Florida wants to join lawsuit to halt ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

All of the tribe’s active ceremonial sites and 15 villages are located within the Big Cypress National Preserve, which surrounds the detention center

by Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix July 15, 2025September 1, 2025

News

Florida Democrats describe ‘really disturbing’ conditions after tour of Alligator Alcatraz

‘There are really disturbing, vile conditions, and this place needs to be shut the hell down’

by Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix July 14, 2025July 27, 2025

News

Orlando lawmakers Anna Eskamani, Carlos Guillermo Smith among Dems filing lawsuit for being denied entrance to Alligator Alcatraz

‘The State is looking forward to quickly dispensing with this dumb lawsuit,’ DeSantis said Thursday

by Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix July 11, 2025September 1, 2025

News

Florida offers 90-minute tour of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ to lawmakers, U.S. reps after denying entry last week

‘What FDEM is offering doesn’t undo their illegal denial or fulfill their legal obligation to us,’ Orlando Rep. Anna Eskamani wrote

by Mitch Perry and Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix July 10, 2025August 25, 2025

News

Miami-Dade County mayor now wants oversight of Florida Everglades’ ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

The mayor voiced deep and growing concern about the safety of people in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

by Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix July 9, 2025August 11, 2025

News

Trump administration sides with Florida in fight over new immigration law

‘Florida’s law is in harmony, not conflict, with federal law,’ Justice Department attorneys wrote

by Jim Saunders, News Service of Florida July 9, 2025August 11, 2025

News

Groups suing over ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ say Florida and feds are partners in detention center

But Trump administration arguments have sought to distance the federal government from responsibility for the project

by Dara Kam, News Service of Florida July 8, 2025July 14, 2025

News

DeSantis claims ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ is temporary, but photos show new paving as environmental groups voice concern

‘The environmental impacts will be devastating,’ the groups wrote to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

by Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix July 8, 2025August 20, 2025

News

‘Cartoonish’ depictions of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ among criticisms of Florida immigrant detention center

Both the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida have denounced the opening of the detention center

by Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix July 7, 2025September 1, 2025

News

Feds say they’re not in charge of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ as migrants arrive, Florida Dems denied entry

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security neither funded nor authorized the tent and trailer detention center, according to a court filing

by Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix July 4, 2025July 25, 2025

News

Big DeSantis campaign donor set to reap millions from ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention camp

The company has brought everything from large trailers to golf carts to a command post into the camp

by Bob Norman, Michelle DeMarco, The Florida Trident July 4, 2025September 1, 2025

News

Officials say ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ is ready to withstand hurricane season, but tents leaked after one rainstorm

The facility — which was built in eight days — can withstand Category 2 winds, officials say

by Chloe Greenberg July 2, 2025August 23, 2025

News

After ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ visit, Trump says he wants more states to build immigrant detention centers

A similar center with the capacity to house 2,000 immigrants is set to open in Camp Blanding in Northeast Florida

by Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix July 2, 2025August 1, 2025

News

Florida now fighting ‘sham’ lawsuit against rushed ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ AG James Uthmeier says

‘My office will fight it in court,’ Florida AG James Uthmeier told his Fox News pals Bill and Dana

by Jim Saunders, News Service of Florida and Chloe Greenberg July 1, 2025July 9, 2025

News

Florida Gov. DeSantis confirms Trump will visit ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ this week

The president is “very excited” about authorizing the National Guards to act as immigration judges, DeSantis said

by Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix June 30, 2025July 6, 2025