Detainees moved out of "Alligator Alcatraz" over hurricane concerns, ICE says

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has moved detainees retired of a arguable soft-sided detention halfway successful the Florida Everglades known arsenic "Alligator Alcatraz," an ICE spokesperson told CBS News, citing information concerns astir hurricane season.

"For the information of the amerciable alien detainees, we transferred them to different facilities," the spokesperson said successful a statement.

CBS News Miami reported past month that companies hired by the authorities of Florida to run Alligator Alcatraz were notified that the installation was being unopen down, with astir 1,400 remaining detainees expected to beryllium removed.

Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin later told CBS News the bureau didn't person immoderate near-term plans to adjacent the facility. But helium acknowledged it faces weather-related "vulnerabilities."

"We person plans successful lawsuit of a earthy exigency specified arsenic a wildfire oregon hurricane, to person to beryllium capable to bring it down and propulsion the individuals out," Mullin said.

Located connected an unused airstrip successful the mediate of the Everglades, Alligator Alcatraz was opened past year, arsenic the Trump medication sought to rapidly grow ICE's detention capableness successful bid to surge arrests and deportations. Detainees astatine the makeshift installation were housed successful ample aerial conditioned tents, filled with rows of bunk beds and cells formed by chain-link fences.

The medication has cast Alligator Alcatraz arsenic a humane and cost-effective mode of lodging radical accused of being successful the U.S. illegally, and argued it could beryllium a exemplary for different migration detention centers acceptable up by states.

Some officials person besides suggested Alligator Alcatraz austere setup and harsh surroundings could beryllium a deterrent. During a sojourn past summer, President Trump said, "We're going to thatch them however to tally distant from an alligator if they flight prison."

And erstwhile Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem delivered a informing that radical successful the U.S. illegally who bash not "self-deport" from the state "may extremity up here."

Alligator Alcatraz drew aggravated disapproval and ineligible pushback from migration advocates, environmental groups and a local Native American tribe. Critics alleged inhumane conditions, including mediocre food, nonfunctional toilets and a lack of entree to attorneys. The Trump medication has denied that conditions astatine the detention halfway were inadequate.

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