First 100 Illegal Immigrants Deported from ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ as DHS Starts Flights: DeSantis

The facility held 2,000 illegal immigrants as of July 25, with plans to increase its capacity to 4,000.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (L), Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie (C), and Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia (R) speak at a press conference at Alligator Alcatraz in Collier County, Fla., on July 25, 2025. (T.J. Muscaro/The Epoch Times).

BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE, Fla.—The first 100 deportations of illegal immigrants held at Alligator Alcatraz have occurred, as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began to conduct flights from the detention center, according to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“Flights out of Alligator Alcatraz by DHS have begun,” DeSantis announced during a press conference at the detention center on July 25.