The U.S. admits that there are migrants at the "Alligator Alcatraz" center without deportation proceedings

The U.S. government acknowledged that among those detained at the Everglades immigration center, known as “Alligator Alcatraz”, there are individuals who have never undergone a formal deportation process, contradicting the statements made by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who had claimed that all detainees had final orders of removal.

According to court documents cited by the Associated Press, attorneys for the Department of Justice (DOJ) acknowledged in a court filing that the center houses individuals at "all stages of the immigration processing," including those who have not been placed in removal proceedings or are still awaiting hearings.

The facility houses detainees at all stages: those who have never been in deportation proceedings, those who will be placed in them, those who already have final orders, and those who are awaiting their departure from the country,” states the DOJ text.

The revelation directly contradicts DeSantis's public statements, who insisted in several appearances in July that “all detainees at Alligator Alcatraz have already been ordered to be removed from the country.”

During a press conference outside the center, the Republican governor stated that "there is no one there who does not have a final deportation order."

The case came to light as part of a lawsuit filed by civil rights organizations, which accuse state authorities of preventing detainees from having adequate access to legal representation, thereby violating their constitutional rights.

Federal government lawyers argued that the differences in the immigration statuses of the detainees make it difficult to certify the case as a class action lawsuit.

The center, built on an old airstrip in the middle of the Everglades, was inaugurated in July under state control and operated by private contractors.

Since then, it has been the subject of three federal lawsuits: one for civil rights violations, another for environmental damage, and a third for administrative irregularities.

In August, a federal judge in Miami ordered the closure of the center within two months after determining that its construction did not have the necessary environmental permits.

However, the order was temporarily suspended by an appeals court, allowing operations to continue while the decision is reviewed.

The center came to house more than 900 detainees, although its total capacity is 3,000.

It was promoted as a model of infrastructure by President Donald Trump, who visited it in July and described it as “an example of how the United States can effectively manage the migration crisis.”

The federal government also approved a reimbursement of 608 million dollars to Florida to cover the costs of construction and operation of the center, a decision that drew criticism from environmental groups and migrant advocates, who believe that the complex symbolizes the repressive approach of the current immigration policy.

Meanwhile, the court case continues in a Fort Myers court, where the suing organizations are demanding that detained migrants be guaranteed access to attorneys, private communication, and review of their legal processes.

Frequently Asked Questions about the "Alligator Alcatraz" Detention Center