TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Gov. Ron DeSantis acknowledged Thursday that Florida may soon shutter “Alligator Alcatraz,” the immigration detention center built in the middle of the Everglades that had been a centerpiece of state and federal efforts to fulfill President Donald Trump’s deportation promises.
The Republican governor, who stressed he had always intended the facility to be temporary as the Trump administration ramped up its efforts, did not give out an exact timeline of when the center may be closed and return to its role as an aircraft training site.
“We knew that it would take some time for them to stand it up, but ultimately our goal on this was for that facility to be a bridge,” said DeSantis following a bill signing ceremony in Lakeland. “If they can handle that, then yeah that would be great for us to break that facility down.”
The center opened with great fanfare from the president’s allies and even drew a visit from Trump. But it has been sharply criticized by immigration advocates and Democrats over its operations, while environmental and tribal groups filed lawsuits challenging its construction.
