Florida opens "Alligator Alcatraz" tent detention camp in Everglades at $450 million annual cost

confirmed Importance 9/10 ~1 min read 4 sources 7 actors

Military-Industrial Complex International Kleptocracy

Florida opened a 3,000-5,000 person tent detention facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Everglades wetlands, costing $450 million annually—three times the cost of existing facilities. Attorney General James Uthmeier boasted detainees who escape would face “alligators and pythons.” Built on Dade-Collier Airport runway without environmental review during hurricane season, the facility housed migrants in tents in extreme heat. By August 28, state officials evacuated all detainees after mounting legal challenges and safety concerns. The cost exceeded $90,000 per person annually.

Sources & Citations

[1] Alligator Alcatraz - Florida builds migrant detention center · Jun 24, 2025 Tier 1

[2] Florida builds Alligator Alcatraz for migrant detainees in Everglades · Jun 24, 2025 Tier 1

[3] Florida Alligator Alcatraz detention facility to be empty within a few days · Aug 28, 2025 Tier 1

[4] Alligator Alcatraz taking a big bite out of Florida tax dollars · Jul 30, 2025 Tier 2

Tiers Tier 1 court records & gov docs · Tier 2 established outlets · Tier 3 regional & specialty press · Tier 4 opinion or single-source. Methodology →

Cite this entry

The Cascade Ledger. “Florida opens "Alligator Alcatraz" tent detention camp in Everglades at $450 million annual cost.” The Capture Cascade Timeline, July 1, 2025. https://capturecascade.org/event/2025-07-01--alligator-alcatraz-everglades-detention/