‘Failed experiment in human suffering’: Alligator Alcatraz immigration jail to close

An alliance of environmental groups and immigration advocates has welcomed what looks to be the imminent closure of Alligator Alcatraz, the notorious immigration jail in the remote Florida Everglades celebrated by Donald Trump for its harsh conditions. State officials told vendors at the facility on Tuesday to prepare for a breakdown of the tented camp beginning next month, the New York Times reported , citing its ongoing cost. It was revealed in March that Ron DeSantis, Florida’s Republican governor, spent $1.2m per day opening and operating the camp that quickly attracted headlines for the brutal treatment of detainees, and had essentially given up on a promised $608m rebate from the Trump administration. Stephanie Hartman, director of communications for the Florida division of emergency management that runs Alligator Alcatraz for the homeland security department (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), appeared to confirm the report. “As Governor DeSantis stated last week , the South Florida detention facility was always intended to serve as a temporary facility to support ongoing illegal immigration enforcement and detention operations,” she said Wednesday in a statement. “If federal operational needs evolve and the DHS implements alternative plans for the South Florida detention facility, the state will pivot accordingly.” The homeland security department did not respond to a request for comment. …