Timeline of Confusion: Florida's Cost Projections for 'Alligator Alcatraz' Detention Center

The Florida Division of Emergency Management drastically adjusted cost calculations for the Everglades "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center at least five times between June and November 2025, each estimate higher than the last. Initial projections ranged from $245 million to $450 million, while an early federal reimbursement application projected over $1.2 billion in spending on detention centers over two years. The facility opened July 1, 2025 in the Big Cypress National Preserve.