Florida’s $245 Million ‘Alligator Alcatraz’: A Costly and Controversial Immigration Experiment

Florida taxpayers are footing a staggering bill of at least $245 million to build and operate a new immigration detention facility in the Everglades, ominously nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz.” This sprawling complex—already drawing sharp criticism from human rights advocates, environmentalists, and even former federal immigration officials—is emblematic of how Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration is leveraging emergency powers to pursue a controversial immigration crackdown with taxpayer dollars and limited transparency. How Did We Get Here—and What Are Floridians Really Paying For? Since announcing the project in June 2023, the governor’s office has signed over two dozen contracts totaling more than $245 million...