Three months after being approved for over $608 million in federal reimbursement, Florida has yet to receive funds for its state-run immigration detention facility, known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
The Everglades facility, which opened last summer, is the first state-operated immigration detention center in the U.S. Gov. Ron DeSantis initially stated that the federal government would cover the costs, and FEMA approved the grant for reimbursement months later.
Legal Complications and Environmental Lawsuit
Questions have emerged over whether the project is state or federal, a distinction critical to an ongoing lawsuit. Environmental groups, including Friends of the Everglades and the Miccosukee Tribe, argue the construction violated the National Environmental Policy Act.
Documents recently filed in court show FEMA awarded the grant effective Sept. 30, 2025, and include emails between state and federal officials regarding the funding application. Friends of the Everglades claim this evidence supports their argument that the project should comply with federal environmental law.
A district judge previously ordered the facility to shut down in August, but an appeals court reversed that decision in September, allowing operations to continue while the case proceeds.
Federal Government Response
Despite FEMA approval, the federal government says no reimbursement has been paid, describing the plans as “unrealized” and “legally insufficient.”
State and federal agencies, including the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Department of Homeland Security, have not publicly commented on the delay.
The ongoing dispute leaves Florida in limbo over the $608 million reimbursement while legal and environmental questions surrounding the facility continue.
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