Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed to CBS News Wednesday that the federal government has no immediate plans to shutter “Alligator Alcatraz,” a migrant detention site situated in the Florida Everglades.
The statement comes despite Mullin’s own admission that the soft-sided facility sits in a high-risk zone for hurricanes and active wildfires.
The facility’s future was the subject of conflicting reports last week. Internal sources previously indicated that contractors had been told to prepare for a June closure, citing skyrocketing operational costs that have approached $100 million.
However, Mullin clarified the department’s stance during an exclusive interview, stating that while the agency is aware of the site’s environmental weaknesses, it remains a vital component of federal “surge capacity.”
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“I don’t think we’ve said we’re shutting it down,” Mullin stated. “That’s not been an announcement we’ve made.”
The Secretary acknowledged the precarious location of the camp, noting that wildfires are currently burning within 20 miles of the perimeter. He emphasized that while DHS maintains contingency plans to evacuate detainees and dismantle the structures during weather emergencies, the site is still needed to handle influxes of migrants.
Florida officials, meanwhile, report a total lack of clarity from Washington. Governor Ron DeSantis and Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie both stated on Wednesday that they have received no formal communication regarding the facility’s long-term status or potential decommissioning.
Guthrie told reporters that the state has seen “zero communication” regarding a path forward.
Built on a remote, abandoned airstrip, the facility has faced a barrage of criticism since it opened last year. While the administration initially marketed the site as a cost-effective solution for ramped-up deportations, it has since been hit with lawsuits from environmental advocates and a local Native American tribe.
Beyond the Everglades site, Mullin indicated a looming shift in how the government handles detention real estate. Following an inspector general’s probe into billions of dollars spent on warehouse-style housing, Mullin suggested the agency will move away from slow-moving warehouse conversions.
Because some states are blocking the use of existing jails, the Secretary—a former construction professional—plans to target shuttered local facilities and county jails that can be renovated and reopened faster than the typical 18-to-24-month timeline required for warehouse retrofits.
For now, however, the tents in the Everglades will remain standing, even as the “Alligator Alcatraz” price tag continues to climb toward the billion-dollar mark.
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