Ron DeSantis’ $608 million Alligator Alcatraz immigration jail in the Florida Everglades is shutting down next month, state officials have confirmed. The notorious Trump-backed tented camp, celebrated for its harsh conditions, will begin dismantling after less than a year of operation. But the real cost of this facility goes far beyond the wasted taxpayer money. It’s a story of environmental destruction, human suffering, and a political stunt that spiraled out of control.
According to The Guardian, state officials told vendors on May 12, 2026, to prepare for the breakdown of the camp, which has been hemorrhaging $1.2 million per day since it opened last July. DeSantis himself all but confirmed the closure during a press conference in Titusville on May 13, framing it as a temporary solution that’s no longer needed.
