Alligator Alcatraz Archives

The state and federal government withheld the truth. We’re fighting back.

At Friends of the Everglades, we don’t just protect Florida’s water and wild places. We hold government officials accountable when they fall down on the job. That’s exactly why we’re back in court. Last Wednesday, we filed an updated lawsuit against the state and federal government in our case against “Alligator Alcatraz,” the mass detention camp the government recklessly built in the middle of the Everglades. We detailed how the state and federal defendants withheld key information from the courts last summer — delaying justice, and allowing the Everglades to be harmed for a year. The defendants misled the court by representing that Florida hadn’t applied for federal funding. They used that as an excuse to dodge compliance with the [...]

Allie Preston2026-08-18T11:39:59-04:00August 18th, 2026|Alligator Alcatraz, Voice of the Everglades|

We just filed an updated lawsuit to demand accountability at “Alligator Alcatraz”

Government officials must clean up the environmentally damaging mess they made at “Alligator Alcatraz.” To make sure they do, we’re going back to court. Friends of the Everglades and our conservation partners filed an updated lawsuit today presenting new information for U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams to consider as we return to her courtroom in Miami on Friday. The new lawsuit shows that government officials withheld critical information from the court during our legal challenge, proving that Florida applied for federal funding for the detention center and that the project should have undergone federal environmental reviews. This information could have upheld the preliminary injunction granted by Judge Williams in August 2025 that halted the facility from operating. Instead, [...]

Allie Preston2026-08-12T15:30:08-04:00August 12th, 2026|Alligator Alcatraz|

Groups File Amended Lawsuit Challenging “Alligator Alcatraz

For Immediate Release, August 12,2026 Groups File Amended Lawsuit Challenging “Alligator Alcatraz Florida, Federal Officials Withheld Key Funding Information MIAMI— Conservation groups filed an updated lawsuit today as part of the ongoing legal challenge over the Everglades detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” in the heart of Big Cypress National Preserve. The amended lawsuit shows that state and federal officials withheld crucial information from a federal appeals court proving that Florida applied for federal funding for the detention center and that the project should have undergone federal environmental reviews. The detention center was built to house people apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Today’s filing comes ahead of a court hearing scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14, [...]

Allie Preston2026-08-12T14:33:57-04:00August 12th, 2026|Alligator Alcatraz, Friends of the Everglades Statements, Press Releases|

Why “Alligator Alcatraz” fell, and what must come next

For 358 days, “Alligator Alcatraz” inflicted grave harm on the Everglades at a staggering cost to taxpayers. The state and feds originally planned to operate the ICE detention center much longer — for 2-3 years, according to public records we obtained — but they retreated after Friends of the Everglades and our allies fought back. Our pressure worked, both inside the courtroom and outside of it. Here’s why. First, we took swift legal action, filing suit against the state of Florida and federal agencies on June 27, 2025 — before “Alligator Alcatraz” even opened. Scrambling to respond, the defendants tried to dodge their responsibility for complying with the National Environmental Act by claiming they hadn’t applied for or received [...]

Allie Preston2026-07-20T13:49:25-04:00July 21st, 2026|Alligator Alcatraz, Voice of the Everglades|

A 5-point Plan for Remediation, Restoration, and Protection of the Everglades After “Alligator Alcatraz”

Friends of the Everglades sent the following letter to Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava on July 2, 2026, to ensure transparency and public input guide what happens at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport after the closure of a mass immigration detention center on the property. The letter outlines outlines a Five-Point plan for Remediation, Restoration, and Protection of the Everglades After “Alligator Alcatraz.”

admin2026-07-09T13:57:22-04:00July 2nd, 2026|All Posts, Alligator Alcatraz, Friends of the Everglades Statements|

Our pressure worked — but our work is not done at “Alligator Alcatraz”

This week marks one year since state and federal officials rushed to build the detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” in the heart of the Everglades, ignoring environmental laws and putting one of America’s most treasured landscapes at risk. Today, we have confirmation that the makeshift prison is no longer housing detainees. We welcome this news and are deeply grateful to our legal partners, tribal allies and to all of you who have stood with us in opposition to this assault on our Everglades — but the damage done to this fragile ecosystem cannot be undone overnight. We will not rest until we see sure proof that every temporary and permanent structure is being deconstructed. As Friends of the [...]

Allie Preston2026-06-26T12:49:25-04:00June 26th, 2026|Alligator Alcatraz|

Statement from our Executive Director on the removal of detainees from “Alligator Alcatraz”

June 17, 2026 Statement from Friends of the Everglades Executive Director Eve Samples on detainees being removed from "Alligator Alcatraz:" “‘Alligator Alcatraz’ will go down as one of the biggest policy failures in American history. Our government failed to protect the Everglades and failed to follow basic environmental laws — while racking up an estimated $1 billion tab paid by taxpayers. Friends of the Everglades and our many allies have fought for a full year to hold the state and federal government accountable for this assault, and this week’s news shows the pressure worked. But the work is not done. ICE’s decision to remove detainees, if true, is overdue and welcome news, yet threats to the Everglades persist. We [...]

Leah Voss2026-06-17T15:36:21-04:00June 17th, 2026|All Posts, Alligator Alcatraz|

One year (too many) of “Alligator Alcatraz”

What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, state and federal officials brazenly ignored our most fundamental environmental laws to build a mass detention center on hallowed ground in the Everglades. They dubbed it “Alligator Alcatraz” and slapped the name on t-shirts and stickers. It was always more political stunt than public policy — and it totally backfired. “Alligator Alcatraz” was a failure by every measure: the massive waste of taxpayer dollars; the harm to the Everglades; the disregard for Miccosukee tribal lands and lives; the insult to Big Cypress National Preserve, which encircles the site. It’s been said that national parks were America’s best idea … “Alligator Alcatraz” was one of its worst. The legal action we filed [...]

Allie Preston2026-06-15T16:03:26-04:00June 16th, 2026|All Posts, Alligator Alcatraz, Voice of the Everglades|

“Alligator Alcatraz” is STILL open. 3 new stories reveal waste, fraud and abuse

One year ago this month, we mounted a once-in-a-generation fight to protect the Everglades from reckless threats inflicted by our own government at “Alligator Alcatraz.” We’re now on the verge of shutting it down. The Atlantic just published a story that underscores how pivotal our legal action was in turning the tide against this ill-conceived detention center: The Alligator Alcatraz Boondoggle After 11 months of environmental harm, and an astonishing price tag borne by taxpayers, the same state leaders who rushed this prison into existence have yet to provide clear answers about its future. The Miami Herald laid bare the total lack of accountability in this blockbuster investigation: How DeSantis signed away $1 billion for state run immigration detention [...]

Allie Preston2026-06-10T16:44:59-04:00June 11th, 2026|Alligator Alcatraz|

‘Alligator Alcatraz’ is STILL open — and we’re still fighting

If we’ve learned one thing since “Alligator Alcatraz” was built on hallowed ground in the Everglades last summer, it’s this: We can’t take government assertions about the detention center at face value. “Aligator Alcatraz” was planned in secret. Built in secret. And, for more than 10 months, it has operated in secret — on sensitive swampland encircled by Big Cypress National Preserve. “Alligator Alcatraz” was built in the footprint of the most recent congressionally authorized Everglades restoration project, the $2 billion Western Everglades Restoration Project, with zero regard for the threat to that taxpayer investment. The secrecy continues now, following reports that the facility is slated to close. On May 7, The New York Times broke the news that [...]

Allie Preston2026-05-19T09:50:54-04:00May 19th, 2026|All Posts, Alligator Alcatraz, Voice of the Everglades|