Detainees Relocated From 'Alligator Alcatraz' Amid Hurricane Threat

WHO:

ABC News - Lauren Bis, a DHS spokesperson, stated, "For the safety of the illegal alien detainees, we transferred them to other facilities."

ABC News - Amy Godshall, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, said, “Transferring people out of this cruel facility is an important step, but it does not erase the harm that has already been done.”

ABC News - U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the transfer of detainees.

ABC News - Lauren Bis, a DHS spokesperson, provided a statement regarding the transfers.

ABC News - President Trump praised the South Florida Detention Center.

ABC News - Amy Godshall, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, commented on the facility's conditions.

ABC News - Ron DeSantis, Florida Governor, mentioned the facility's intended temporary nature.

ABC News - Arianne Betancourt, a community advocate, criticized the reasons for the transfers.

ABC News - Katie Blankenship, an immigration attorney, reported on the movement of her clients.

ABC News - Renata Bozzetto, deputy director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, discussed the implications of the transfers.

WHAT:

ABC News - The South Florida Detention Center has been operational for 11 months since its opening on July 3, 2025.

ABC News - The first tropical storm of the 2026 hurricane season formed off the Texas coast shortly after the ICE announcement regarding the transfers.

Newser - The facility costs state taxpayers an estimated $1.2 million a day to run.

Newser - The immigration detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz" costs state taxpayers an estimated $1.2 million a day to run.

ABC News - The South Florida Detention Center has processed and deported 22,000 detainees since its opening, as confirmed by Ron DeSantis.

ABC News - All detainees at the "Alligator Alcatraz" facility have been transferred to other facilities.

ABC News - The South Florida Detention Facility has processed and deported 22,000 detainees since its opening.

ABC News - Detainees reported poor conditions, including worms in food, non-flushing toilets, and flooding floors.

WHERE:

ABC News - The "Alligator Alcatraz" facility is located in the Florida Everglades.

ABC News - Detainees have been moved to facilities in South Florida, California, Arizona, Louisiana, and Texas.

WHEN:

ABC News - The "Alligator Alcatraz" facility opened on July 3, 2025.

ABC News - Trump toured the facility on July 1, 2025.

ABC News - The 2026 hurricane season began with the formation of the first tropical storm off the Texas coast.

WHY:

Newser - ICE described the relocation of detainees as a hurricane-season safety move from what it called a "soft sided" installation.

ABC News - Advocates claimed the hurricane season is an excuse for the transfers, not the real reason, with Arianne Betancourt stating, “That’s a nonsense excuse because they opened in the middle of the worst part of hurricane season last year.”

ABC News - DHS cited safety concerns related to the hurricane season as the reason for the transfers.

ABC News - Advocates claimed the hurricane season was an excuse for the transfers, not the real reason.

HOW:

ABC News - Katie Blankenship reported that her clients have been unavailable to family or counsel for typically about a week after being moved.

ABC News - Katie Blankenship, an immigration attorney, reported that all 50 clients she has been advising have been moved from “Alligator Alcatraz” to other facilities.

ABC News - Detainees were transferred to other facilities without official notice to their attorneys.

(UPDATED June 18, 2026 14:03 UTC)

The South Florida Detention Center has been operational for 11 months, costing state taxpayers an estimated $1.2 million a day to run. Shortly after the announcement regarding transfers from ICE, the first tropical storm of the 2026 hurricane season formed off the Texas coast. Katie Blankenship reported that her clients have typically been unavailable to family or counsel for about a week after being moved.

(UPDATED June 18, 2026 08:34 UTC)

The immigration detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz" is costing state taxpayers an estimated $1.2 million a day to operate. ICE has characterized the relocation of detainees as a safety measure for hurricane season, citing concerns about the facility's "soft sided" installation. This move aims to enhance the safety and security of those held at the center during severe weather events.

(UPDATED June 18, 2026 04:21 UTC)

In a recent statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security announced that detainees have been transferred from the South Florida Detention Center to other facilities for their safety. While advocates acknowledge this move as a step forward, they argue it doesn't undo the harm already inflicted, with one attorney describing the reasoning behind the transfers as a "nonsense excuse." Since its opening, the South Florida Detention Center has processed and deported a staggering 22,000 detainees, as confirmed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

(UPDATED June 17, 2026 23:30 UTC)

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced the transfer of all detainees from the "Alligator Alcatraz" facility in the Florida Everglades to various locations across South Florida, California, Arizona, Louisiana, and Texas, citing safety concerns related to the hurricane season. President Trump praised the South Florida Detention Center, while advocates and attorneys criticized the conditions reported by detainees, including issues like worms in food and non-flushing toilets. Notably, the transfers occurred without official notice to the detainees' attorneys, raising further concerns among advocates about the true motivations behind the move.