Florida is currently discussing shutting down Alligator Alcatraz with the federal government, as the notorious Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility could no longer be needed. The news sparked outrage among Florida residents, many of whom criticized Governor Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump for spending the state’s resources on what they viewed as an unsuccessful project.
According to reports from The New York Times, Ron DeSantis has been in talks with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which reportedly considers Alligator Alcatraz “too expensive” to continue operating. Until now, Florida has been spending more than $1 million per day to run the detention center.
Officially named the South Florida Detention Facility, Alligator Alcatraz opened on July 3, 2025. The facility was built near a swamp in the Florida Everglades and has been controversial since its inception, drawing criticism over the living conditions of detainees and its high operating costs. The facility currently holds around 1,400 men.
Since the ICE detention center began operating, Ron DeSantis has claimed that the federal government would pay for it, but Florida has yet to receive the $608 million federal reimbursement promised by the Trump administration.
Florida Residents Are Not Happy with Money Spent on Alligator Alcatraz
Locals were not happy to see such a huge facility being built, the state government investing so much money into it, only for it to shut down so soon, as the whole endeavor seemed pointless to some people. “Meanwhile, our schools can barely afford pencils,” one user complained.
Others lamented that “Florida is never getting that money back from the feds.” This led another person to respond: “They never needed or wanted the money back. The voters won’t sway over this, and if they did, it won’t be able to happen all in one go. It’s not like the Dems can take a supermajority and the governor’s mansion in one election. Honestly, it would take a far more aggressive political movement to even come close.”
Some people even accused those involved in the construction of the center, with one commenter writing: “The purpose was for this money to disappear so it could line pockets.” Some residents also criticized the state administration, saying, “But yet, they get away with the stupid things they are doing and flat-out stealing in front of our eyes with ZERO accountability.” In both cases, however, the commenters presented no proof whatsoever of foul play.
The future of the so-called Alligator Alcatraz remains uncertain, and Florida residents will likely remember the controversy as complaints continue over the money spent on the project.
