Federal officials on Friday confirmed that Florida has been reimbursed $608 million for the costs of building and running an immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, exposing “Alligator Alcatraz” to the risk of being ordered to close for a second time.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that Florida received its full reimbursement request, raising concerns about the facility's operational status. The reimbursement, however, subjects Florida to potential legal challenges following a federal judge's injunction in August, which agreed with environmental advocates that the site did not undergo a proper environmental review prior to its conversion into a detention center.
Despite the injunction, an appellate court in Atlanta temporarily halted the order, ruling that the state facility did not require a federally mandated environmental impact study since it had not previously received federal funding for this project. A three-judge panel indicated that if the federal government ultimately approves the reimbursement, an environmental impact statement (EIS) may be necessary.
The appellate court's decision has kept the center operational while suspending any efforts to wind down its operations.
In a related move, President Donald Trump toured the facility in July and suggested it could serve as a model for future immigration centers across the country amid ongoing efforts to broaden the infrastructure needed for deportations.
Environmental groups that initiated the lawsuit against the state and federal governments argue that the reimbursement indicates the facility is indeed a federal project from the outset. They contend that federal laws mandate a comprehensive environmental review for such developments. Elise Bennett, the Florida and Caribbean director at the Center for Biological Diversity, expressed deep concerns, stating, This is a federal project being built with federal funds that’s required by federal law to go through a complete environmental review. We’ll do everything we can to stop this lawless, destructive, and wasteful debacle.
