- BIST10011,722-2.89%
- USD49.45+0.05%
- EUR55.62+0.37%
- GOLD4,181.100.00%
- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN80,717-0.82%
- October 18, 202616°
- BIST10011,722-2.89%
- USD49.45+0.05%
- EUR55.62+0.37%
- GOLD4,181.100.00%
- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN80,717-0.82%
- October 18, 202616°
DHS Transfers All Detainees from Alligator Alcatraz to Other Centers Due to Hurricane Concerns
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that all detainees at the Alligator Alcatraz facility in Florida's Everglades have been relocated to other centers due to safety concerns related to the hurricane season. Officials did not specify whether the transfers are temporary or permanent.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that all detainees at the Alligator Alcatraz facility, located in Florida's Everglades and used for immigrants, have been transferred to other centers. The transfers were made due to safety concerns related to the hurricane season.
The department did not disclose the number of people removed from the facility. It was noted that some detainees would be sent to another ICE center called Deportation Depot, located in Sanderson, northern Florida.
Officials did not provide information on whether the transferred individuals will stay long-term at the new centers or if these transfers are only temporary.
Hurricane Season Cited as Reason
A department spokesperson stated that ICE and the state of Florida moved individuals classified as undocumented immigrants from the vulnerable facility to other centers for safety reasons. The spokesperson emphasized that this step was taken to ensure the detainees' safety.
The hurricane season in the U.S. lasts from June through November. The Alligator Alcatraz facility opened on July 3, 2025. Shortly after its opening, the first tropical storm of the year was reported off the coast of Texas.
The facility was established under Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis' administration to support Donald Trump's plan to detain and deport immigrants en masse. It was reported that Trump visited the facility two days before its opening and that since then, more than 20,000 detainees have been processed and deported.
Facility Has Long Been Subject to Criticism
While praised by Trump, Alligator Alcatraz faced harsh criticism from lawyers and human rights groups due to its severe conditions. Complaints included detainees having difficulty accessing lawyers, sightings of worms in food, non-functioning toilets, floors flooded with sewage water, and widespread presence of insects.
Amy Godshall, a lawyer from the American Civil Liberties Union who filed lawsuits against state and federal governments over the facility's conditions, said that removing people from this facility is an important step but does not undo the harm caused. Godshall called for the facility to be permanently closed and for no one to be detained there again.
Recently, it has been claimed that transfers of immigrants to other centers have increased, with dozens losing contact during the process. Immigrant rights advocates argued that the hurricane reason is not the real cause.
Arianne Betancourt, who works with the civil group The Workers Circle and has been helping detainees connect with lawyers for months, said she did not find this reason convincing. Betancourt reminded that the facility was opened last year during the peak of the hurricane season.
Another advocate, Blankenship, stated that many detainees have disappeared within the system, with families and lawyers unable to reach them for about a week.
Stay Updated with Ally Daily
Subscribe to be informed about special news, developments and announcements. We will keep you informed.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy
