DHS Transfers Detainees from Florida Detention Center Amid Hurricane Season

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the transfer of all detainees from a migrant detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz" in the Florida Everglades to other facilities due to concerns related to the hurricane season. The agency did not disclose the number of detainees transferred, but some will be moved to another ICE facility in Sanderson, Florida. DHS did not clarify whether these transfers are temporary or long-term. A DHS spokesperson stated, "As we enter into hurricane season, ICE and the state of Florida have moved illegal aliens from the soft-sided facility. For the safety of the illegal alien detainees, we transferred them to other facilities." The hurricane season lasts from June to November. The facility, which opened on July 3, 2025, has faced criticism for its conditions, with reports of inadequate access to legal representation and poor living conditions. Amy Godshall, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, commented on the transfers, stating that while it is a step forward, it does not address the previous harm caused. The facility was established by Florida's Republican administration to support immigration enforcement policies. Critics argue that the hurricane season is being used as a pretext for the transfers, noting an increase in detainee transfers in recent weeks.