Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has defended the closure of the controversial "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention facility, saying it helped remove more than 21,000 people from the state during its year of operation. Get today's headlines by email Speaking alongside White House border adviser Tom Homan at the dismantled site in Ochopee, south Florida, on Thursday, DeSantis described the temporary detention center as a successful part of President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement strategy. He said all remaining detainees had been transferred to federal immigration facilities. DeSantis Defends FacilityDeSantis said the detention center had achieved its intended purpose by supporting deportation efforts and improving public safety. He argued that the removal of more than 21,000 detainees had made both Florida and the United States safer. The governor also said many of those held at the facility would otherwise have been released into Florida communities. To support that claim, DeSantis cited several detainees whom he said had criminal histories involving offenses such as sexual assault of minors, drug trafficking, fraud, driving under the influence and domestic battery. Homan also rejected accusations that detainees had been mistreated. He said the Trump administration's immigration policies had sharply reduced illegal border crossings, which he argued had lowered the number of migrant deaths, assaults and drug smuggling incidents. Without providing evidence, he also claimed that as many as 70% of those arrested had criminal records or pending charges. Criticism Over ConditionsThe detention center became a frequent target of criticism from immigrant rights groups, legal advocates and environmental organizations, which accused state officials of subjecting detainees to inhumane conditions, limiting access to legal representation and causing damage to the surrounding Everglades ecosystem. Noelle Damico, director of social justice at the Workers Circle, said sustained public protests had made the facility politically unsustainable. The advocacy group held weekly demonstrations outside the remote detention center throughout its operation, ending with a final vigil shortly before the closure. Damico described the shutdown as the result of public opposition to what she called brutality and lawlessness at the site. She also argued that the closure represented a political setback for both the DeSantis and Trump administrations, although she said similar immigration enforcement efforts were continuing elsewhere in Florida. Disputed Claims and Environmental ConcernsMedia investigations conducted during the facility's operation reported that many detainees had no criminal convictions or pending criminal charges. In numerous cases, their only alleged violation was being in the United States without legal authorization, which is a civil immigration offense rather than a criminal one. Nationally, a majority of people held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities do not have criminal convictions. DeSantis also rejected claims that the temporary jail caused lasting environmental damage to the Everglades. He said construction and operations had been carefully managed to limit any impact on the surrounding wetlands and pointed to the state's broader Everglades restoration efforts. Environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians continue to pursue legal action, arguing that the facility harmed the fragile ecosystem through pollution and construction on protected land. The governor added that Florida was still seeking reimbursement from the federal government for up to $1 billion spent on the detention center, although he did not say when the state expected to receive the funds. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 26 June 2026
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