Sheri Polster Chappell requires official evidence to confirm if the "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center is permanently closed.

U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has ordered state or federal officials to provide formal evidence regarding the permanent closure of the "Alligator Alcatraz" detention facility. While the site has been largely dismantled, Chappell noted that the state's previous claims of closure lacked official documentation. The facility, which was rapidly constructed in the Florida Everglades, served as a temporary hub for the administration's aggressive illegal immigration crackdown. During its operation, the center processed more than 22,000 people and helped the government deport over 21,000 illegal immigrants. Although the facility was subject to various lawsuits regarding its "inhumane" conditions and environmental impact, the Center for Biological Diversity recently withdrew a Clean Air Act lawsuit after aerial imagery confirmed the removal of air-polluting equipment. The state has four days to present clear evidence to the court or explain why the case should be dismissed. The facility was lauded by the administration for its role in expanding detention capacity, despite its high daily operating costs.

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