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submitted 1 year ago by Stamau123@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

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.

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[-] slate@sh.itjust.works 100 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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 14 points 1 year 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.

[-] LoafedBurrito@lemmy.world 72 points 1 year ago

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 12 points 1 year ago
[-] Bocky@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

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

Ever tried convincing someone that roots for Manchester United to instead root for Liverpool?

[-] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

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

[-] ganksy@lemmy.world 46 points 1 year ago

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 33 points 1 year ago

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.

[-] CobblerScholar@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

I think you know the answer

[-] Davel23@fedia.io 5 points 1 year ago

Do you really have to ask?

[-] cowfodder@lemmy.world 22 points 1 year ago

The party of "fiscal responsibility", everyone!

[-] wetbeardhairs@lemmy.dbzer0.com 19 points 1 year ago

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

[-] homoludens@feddit.org 12 points 1 year ago

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

[-] j0ester@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

They probably renting them, since it’s from Budget.

[-] wetbeardhairs@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 year ago

Budget Rent-a-Alcatraz

[-] stupe@lemmy.zip 17 points 1 year ago

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

[-] BothsidesistFraud@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago

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

[-] teft@piefed.social 34 points 1 year ago

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.

[-] Arsecroft@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 year ago

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

[-] FewerWheels@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago

*Aligator Auschwitz. FTFW.

[-] CileTheSane@lemmy.ca 10 points 1 year ago

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

[-] GoTime@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

Are they winning yet?

[-] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

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

[-] callouscomic@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 year ago

When have conservatives actually cared about losing money?

[-] thermal_shock@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

When they can blame it on a Democrat leader

[-] reddig33@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

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

[-] ronigami@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

State of morons. They deserve it.

[-] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago
[-] j0ester@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

It’s exactly that. They’re going to ignore court orders sooner or later.

Donald will just use a pos EO saying to leave it open, and people will think EO’s are laws.

[-] fartographer@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year 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 1 year ago

Could not happen to a nicer bunch of MAGAts.

[-] msmc101@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 year ago

won't someone think of the bottom line

[-] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 year ago

AP focusing on the most important part as usual 🙄

[-] PumaStoleMyBluff@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year 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 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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

this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2025
363 points (99.2% liked)

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