The New York Times<\/a>, the detention center \u2014 which opened in July 2025 with strong backing from President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis \u2014 has already cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars to operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe facility became a national flashpoint almost immediately after opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just days before detainees arrived, Trump toured the site alongside then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and DeSantis, praising Florida\u2019s aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration and taking a swipe at former President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the visit, Trump joked that Biden \u201cprobably wanted to put me in there,\u201d while admiring the heavy-duty detention setup designed to house illegal migrants deep in the Florida Everglades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the project quickly ran into legal and political trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A federal judge ordered the facility shut down in August after environmental groups and a local Native American tribe sued over concerns about the impact on nearby land and wildlife. An appeals court later blocked the shutdown order, allowing operations to continue while the legal fight played out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The center has also faced criticism from immigrant advocacy groups and detainees, who alleged poor conditions inside the facility, including claims of maggot-infested food, withheld medication, and overcrowded living quarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the backlash, supporters argued the facility symbolized the tougher immigration enforcement policies championed by Trump and embraced by Republican leaders frustrated with years of border chaos under Biden-era policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, with costs reportedly spiraling, Florida and federal officials appear to be reconsidering whether \u201cAlligator Alcatraz\u201d is sustainable long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n