Hundreds of detainees transferred from Florida Everglades ICE facility, whereabouts unclear to families
Jun 18, 2026·Location: Florida Everglades, FL

All detainees at the South Florida Detention Center, a facility in Florida's Everglades known as "Alligator Alcatraz" that opened in July 2025, were transferred to other facilities in mid-June 2026. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security cited hurricane season safety concerns as the reason for the transfers. However, immigration advocates and lawyers dispute this explanation, noting the facility operated throughout the previous hurricane season without prior closures. Approximately 800 detainees have been transferred, with families and legal representatives reporting difficulty locating them and unclear information about their current status. The facility had faced persistent criticism and lawsuits over poor conditions, including worms in food, non-functioning toilets, flooding, denial of medical care, solitary confinement, and inadequate legal access.
Timeline
Sources
- www-cdn.abcnews.com
- Lawyers say Alligator Alcatraz detainee transfers are ramping up | Jefferson City News
newstribune.com·May 24, 2026·archived copy
- hanfordsentinel.com
- wiproud.com
- Mystery deepens: Hundreds of immigrants disappear from infamous Florida ICE prison Alligator Alcatraz
- All detainees from immigration facility 'Alligator Alcatraz' have been transferred
WUSF·Jun 18, 2026·archived copy
- All detainees transferred out of controversial migrant facility known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
alaskasnewssource.com·Jun 17, 2026·archived copy
More incidents in Florida
- Cuban man detained in Florida, deported to Central African Republic, held in BanguiOct 6, 2026 · West Palm Beach, FL
- Man dons ICE costume, intimidates Brazilian election voters in MiamiOct 4, 2026 · Miami, FL
- Cuban man detained by ICE for two months, mother pleads for his releaseOct 3, 2026 · Hialeah, FL
- Detainees sue over conditions at Miramar ICE facility in FloridaOct 2, 2026 · Miramar, FL
- US citizen punched by ICE agent during Naples Manor van stop, protest plannedOct 2, 2026 · Naples Manor, FL
- Three Guatemalan taqueria workers detained in Tallahassee ICE raid, restaurant shuts downOct 2, 2026 · Tallahassee, FL