this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2025
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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Florida taxpayers could be on the hook for $218 million the state spent to convert a remote training airport in the Everglades into an immigration detention center dubbed “ Alligator Alcatraz.”

The center may soon be completely empty as a judge upheld her decision late Wednesday ordering operations to wind down indefinitely.

Shutting down the facility for the time being would cost the state $15 million to $20 million immediately, and it would cost another $15 million to $20 million to reinstall structures if Florida is allowed to reopen it, according to court filings by the state.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management will lose most of the value of the $218 million it has invested in making the little-used airport suitable for a detention center, a state official said in court papers.

Built in just a few days, the facility consists of chain-link cages surrounding large white tents filled with rows of bunk beds. As of late July, state officials had already signed more than $245 million in contracts for building and operating the facility, which officially opened July 1.

President Donald Trump toured the facility last month and suggested it could be a model for future lockups nationwide as his administration races to expand the infrastructure needed to increase deportations.

The center has been plagued by reports of unsanitary conditions and detainees being cut off from the legal system.

all 41 comments
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[–] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 1 points 10 minutes ago

If they follow the order.

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 4 points 6 hours ago

I feel sorry for those floridians who didn't vote for this.

[–] FewerWheels@lemmy.world 5 points 7 hours ago

*Aligator Auschwitz. FTFW.

[–] stupe@lemmy.zip 14 points 10 hours ago

But hey, Trump and his buddies just made 218 million.

[–] ronigami@lemmy.world 6 points 9 hours ago

State of morons. They deserve it.

[–] LoafedBurrito@lemmy.world 63 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Oh man, your taxpayer money was wasted on a concentration camp.

It's almost like you could have voted against this somehow...

[–] LordCrom@lemmy.world 9 points 10 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Bocky@lemmy.world 3 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

You have to convince your brain dead cronies who didn’t though

[–] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 1 points 12 minutes ago

They t be neighbors, but they aren’t cronies.

[–] slate@sh.itjust.works 91 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (1 children)

State may lose its $69 Trillion "investment" if it shuts down its orphan-crushing machine

Quite the headline you've got there.

The taxpayers are on the hook for this dumbass bullshit anyway, may as well skip the crimes against humanity.

[–] Jikiya@lemmy.world 12 points 12 hours ago

I'm with you, as Florida resident im so pissed I have to pay for this, but am very glad its not actually going to be operating anymore.

[–] callouscomic@lemmy.zip 6 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

When have conservatives actually cared about losing money?

[–] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 11 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

When they can blame it on a Democrat leader

[–] JargonWagon@lemmy.world 4 points 10 hours ago
[–] ganksy@lemmy.world 43 points 16 hours ago (3 children)

Great now do Cop City.

Honestly though, what could possibly cost so much when you're building tents with chain-link fence inside? Did they spend it all on guns or did it just get laundered to politicians and their subcontractor friends?

[–] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 29 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

What costs so much are the kickbacks and bribes. Trump is expanding an existing ballroom in the White House at a cost of $200 million right now too.

[–] Luouth@lemmy.world 8 points 14 hours ago

Picking up right where Epstein left off with the paint-everything-gold schmoozing

[–] CobblerScholar@lemmy.world 6 points 16 hours ago

I think you know the answer

[–] Davel23@fedia.io 5 points 16 hours ago

Do you really have to ask?

[–] GoTime@lemmy.world 7 points 11 hours ago

Are they winning yet?

[–] bacon_pdp@lemmy.world 37 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Great job Miccosukee Tribe.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 6 points 16 hours ago
[–] cowfodder@lemmy.world 22 points 16 hours ago

The party of "fiscal responsibility", everyone!

[–] wetbeardhairs@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

Remind me how a bunch of tents cost over $200 million?

[–] Stovetop@lemmy.world 20 points 16 hours ago

Republican politician to government contractor: "Here is your $100 million to complete the project."

Government contractor to parts supplier: "We have a budget of $20 million, what can we get with that?"

Parts supplier to raw material producer: "We need to fill an order, the contractor gave us a budget of $1 million."

Raw material producer to third-world wage slaves: "You can get by on $10/week, right? Could always be worse."

[–] homoludens@feddit.org 11 points 15 hours ago

Maybe DOGGO got involved - the Department Of Gross Government Overspending.

[–] BothsidesistFraud@lemmy.world 15 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

The memeification/cutesiness of the name of this center and others (Cornhusker Clink, Speedway Slammer) are blackpilling honestly.

[–] teft@piefed.social 31 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Call them what they are. Concentration camps.

From wikipedia, emphasis mine:

A concentration camp is a prison or other facility used for the internment of political prisoners or politically targeted demographics, such as members of national or ethnic minority groups, on the grounds of national security, or for exploitation or punishment.

[–] the_q@lemmy.zip 12 points 16 hours ago

Didn't you hear, Wikipedia is biased against Trump so it's got to be dealt with!

[–] Arsecroft@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 14 hours ago

in snow crash the the lobbies were also themed, but i guess disney hasnt purchased the geo group yet

[–] CileTheSane@lemmy.ca 8 points 15 hours ago

But there's no money for healthcare or feeding children.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 6 points 16 hours ago

I wouldn’t doubt that someone made money on it. And lots of it.

[–] fartographer@lemmy.world 4 points 15 hours ago

I'd vote to pay taxes on three times that amount if it would put a stop to all of this...

[–] MyOpinion@lemmy.today 4 points 16 hours ago

Could not happen to a nicer bunch of MAGAts.

[–] msmc101@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 16 hours ago

won't someone think of the bottom line

[–] Marshezezz@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 15 hours ago
[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 14 hours ago (2 children)

AP focusing on the most important part as usual 🙄

[–] PumaStoleMyBluff@lemmy.world 3 points 12 hours ago

It's not like this is their first story on the place. They've covered the abuse. I do wish they'd ball up and call it a concentration camp, though.

[–] sad_detective_man@leminal.space 3 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

we can't shut it down, man. we've already spent a gorrillian dollars on the concentration camp 🥺

[–] radiofreebc@lemmy.world 2 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

More like a lack-of-concentration camp.