Ron DeSantis Wasted $250 Million on Alligator Alcatraz as It Faces Closure [View all]

Source: Newsweek

Published Aug 28, 2025 at 6:53 AM EDT


The state of Florida is committed to $245 million toward the construction of "Alligator Alcatraz," the Everglades immigration detention facility which is due to close in days. An email obtained by The Associated Press Wednesday from Kevin Guthrie, head of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, indicates the facility will likely soon be empty, after a federal judge ruled it must cease to operate. Newsweek contacted Governor DeSantis's office and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment on Thursday via email outside of regular office hours.

Why It Matters

Since his second presidential inauguration in January, President Donald Trump has overseen a crackdown aimed at illegal immigration, increasing spending on immigration enforcement and removing legal impediments to rapid deportations. Having to close the new Florida detention facility would be a blow to both Governor DeSantis and the Trump administration, and would show that one of the main impediments to White House policy continues to be the courts.

What To Know

Figures published by Florida officials show the state has signed contracts worth at least $245 million to companies for work at the new Florida detention facility, which was constructed by repurposing the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee. The largest single contract, at $78.5 million, went to Jacksonville based Critical Response Strategies which is responsible for hiring corrections officers, camp managers and IT personnel. Longview Solutions Group was awarded $25.6 million for site preparation and construction while IT company Gothams has a $21.1 million contract to provide services including access badges and detainee wristbands.

Some of the contract details were later removed from Florida's public database, sparking criticism from Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani. Florida officials said some of their spending would be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But the Trump administration has said in a court filing it has had nothing to do with funding of the facility, according to CBS: "Florida is constructing and operating the facility using state funds on state lands under state emergency authority."

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/ron-desantis-wasted-250-million-alligator-alcatraz-it-faces-closure-2120638