Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration has already committed over $245 million in taxpayer money to construct and operate a massive new immigration detention center deep in the Everglades — a project critics have dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”
The sprawling facility, located on a remote, swamp-surrounded airstrip 45 miles west of Miami, is expected to cost around $450 million annually once fully operational. The initial contracts, awarded rapidly since June 19, reflect the DeSantis administration’s full embrace of former President Donald Trump’s aggressive mass deportation plans.
Despite fierce opposition from environmental groups, faith leaders, and civil liberties advocates — and even criticism from former Trump ICE director Mark Morgan — the project is moving forward. In a Fox News op-ed, Morgan called the facility “built for headlines” and warned it was “ripe for failure, mismanagement and corruption.”
$245 Million and Counting
A review of Florida’s public contract database shows the Executive Office of the Governor has authorized at least 24 contracts worth over $245 million so far. These deals were issued under DeSantis’ standing executive order declaring an “illegal immigration emergency,” first enacted in 2023. The order allows the state to bypass competitive bidding and standard oversight processes, streamlining contract approvals.
Though state officials have said some costs could be reimbursed by FEMA, court filings from the Department of Homeland Security reveal that no federal money has been paid yet. DHS made clear Florida is using state funds, state lands, and emergency authority to build and run the facility without federal partnership.
Big Money, Big Contracts
The largest contract — $78.5 million — was awarded to Critical Response Strategies, a Jacksonville-based firm tasked with staffing the facility. That includes hiring a warden, correctional officers, camp managers, and IT staff. According to job listings, correctional officers could earn up to $11,600 per month, more than triple the base pay of officers in Florida’s state prisons.
Other major contracts include:
- $25.6 million to Longview Solutions Group for civil engineering, roads, and fencing.
- $22 million to Doodie Calls for portable toilets and shower trailers.
- $21.1 million to Gothams for detainee ID systems and IT support.
- $19.7 million each to SLSCO LTD and Garner Environmental Services for site construction and maintenance.
Transparency Concerns Mount
Despite the scale of public spending, little detail is available about how the money is being used. Full contract documents, once accessible on the state’s website, have been removed and replaced with vague one-page invoices listing only company names, costs, and billing addresses.
Some of the multimillion-dollar contracts were awarded to companies with political ties to DeSantis and GOP-aligned campaigns. The governor’s office referred all questions about the contracts to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, which oversees the project.
Division spokesperson Stephanie Hartman defended the removal of the documents, claiming they contained “proprietary information that shouldn’t have been uploaded.” The agency has not responded to further inquiries about whether detailed records will be made public again.
A Politically Charged Project
While DeSantis touts the detention center as part of Florida’s effort to combat illegal immigration, critics see it as a politically charged symbol — costly, rushed, and lacking in transparency. With state prisons still facing staffing crises that prompted the deployment of the National Guard, some question the prioritization of resources for a project so steeped in controversy.
Whether “Alligator Alcatraz” becomes a model for immigration enforcement or a cautionary tale of unchecked executive power remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Florida taxpayers are footing the bill, and the costs are already climbing.
