US immigrants’ rights advocates have welcomed the announcement by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis of the closure of the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention center. The center, which was criticized for its conditions, was said to have fulfilled its purpose, according to Governor DeSantis.

Systemic Concerns Remain

Carmen Iguina González, deputy director for immigration detention with the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Prison Project, stated that while the closure is worth celebrating, it reflects a wider systemic problem that remains. ‘The nightmarish scene found at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ is not wholly unique and reflects systemic patterns of abuse at other ICE detention facilities nationwide,’ she said.

Environmental groups had sued over the detention center, alleging a lack of proper permits and required reviews. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency had held an average of about 1,400 detainees at the facility from October 1, 2025, through early April.

Human rights groups say the immigration crackdown has created an unsafe environment, particularly for ethnic minorities, and led to concerns of racial profiling. Governor DeSantis and other Republican advocates of the crackdown say it aims to curb illegal immigration and improve domestic security.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.