Florida's controversial Everglades immigration detention facility, widely known as "Alligator Alcatraz," could be empty within days, even as state and federal authorities continue to battle in court over whether it should remain open, according to emails obtained by The Associated Press.
In an Aug. 22 exchange with South Florida Rabbi Mario Rojzman, Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie said, "we are probably going to be down to 0 individuals within a few days." Rojzman and the staffer who relayed the message confirmed its authenticity to the AP. Guthrie's agency has overseen both the construction and operation of the site, which opened July 1 at a remote airstrip in the Everglades.
The disclosure comes just days after U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ordered the facility to wind down operations, with all detainees removed within 60 days, a ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, who argued the project violated federal environmental laws and threatened wetlands critical to protected species.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded defiantly to the ruling the following day, saying that his administration "will not be deterred" by the order and going on to say that he's confident that "we're totally in the right on this" since "we're leading the state efforts to help the Trump administration actually enforce the law to remove these illegal aliens from not just Florida but from our country."
State records show that more than $245 million in contracts have already been signed to build and operate the facility, part of what officials estimated could become a $450 million annual expense. Most of the contracts were issued under DeSantis' emergency orders, which bypassed competitive bidding requirements, according to The Associated Press.
The Everglades facility has drawn scrutiny since its inception. Reporting from the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times earlier this week revealed discrepancies between state officials' claims and the facility's actual use. While DeSantis and others insisted detainees held there were under final orders of removal, records showed many had no criminal convictions or pending charges, and only about one in five had final removal orders.
At its peak in July, "Alligator Alcatraz" held about 1,400 people. But as legal and political challenges intensified, detainee numbers have declined sharply.
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