A Florida immigrant detention facility called “Alligator Alcatraz” was built in the Everglades (at the Dade‑Collier Training and Transition Airport in Big Cypress National Preserve), announced in mid‑June and opened around July 3, 2025.
It was promoted by Governor Ron DeSantis and announced by State Attorney General James Uthmeier, though it was established under a state emergency order without typical oversight procedures.
The facility has drawn widespread condemnation due to allegations of inhumane conditions—including overcrowded cage‑like tents, infestations, poor sanitation, lack of showers and medical care, and exposure to extreme heat and insects—all reported by detainees, attorneys, journalists, and visiting legislators.
A group of Florida Democratic lawmakers (state senators and representatives) sought to inspect the facility unannounced on July 3, invoking their statutory oversight rights, but were denied entry, which prompted them to file a lawsuit challenging that denial.
DeSantis’ office described the lawsuit as “dumb” or frivolous, while agreeing to schedule a pre‑arranged tour for legislators—an offer the lawmakers said did not meet the legal standard for independent oversight.
