Because so much has been happening on the national stage in recent weeks — the Schumer Shutdown grinding on, the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk, President Trump’s bold move to authorize troop deployments to restore order in Portland, and the public outrage over the brutal murder of Charlotte resident Iryna Zarutska — one major story has flown under the radar: Florida’s so-called “Alligator Alcatraz.”
At the state level, “Alligator Alcatraz” has drawn plenty of attention — mostly thanks to Democrats, the corporate press, and other critics who suddenly discovered a concern for fiscal responsibility. They argue Florida taxpayers shouldn’t have to shoulder the cost of what is, in reality, a federal operation.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has met those complaints head-on. While no doubt entertained by Democrats pretending to clutch their pearls over spending, he’s been clear from the start: Florida will be reimbursed for every dime spent building and running the temporary detention facility.
On Thursday, DHS confirmed what Gov. DeSantis had been saying all along: Florida won’t be left on the hook. The FEMA grant the state applied for to cover costs tied to “Alligator Alcatraz” had already been awarded — just before the Schumer Shutdown threw Washington into chaos:
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Florida submitted an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and was awarded the full $608 million just two days ago.
The Governor’s office confirmed the funds will pay for construction and management of Alligator Alcatraz and “Deportation Depot,“ a state-run immigration detention center located in Sanderson.
“The reality is what I have said from the beginning — we will get reimbursed,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Sept. 26.
#AlligatorAlcatraz: A DHS spokesperson tells me FEMA awarded reimbursement on September 30 (a day before the government shutdown) “to the full amount they [Florida] applied for. $608M.” It is not immediately clear if the $608M will be exclusively spent on Alligator Alcatraz. ? https://t.co/D1qMXOkDGs
— Christina Boomer Vazquez, M.S. (@CBoomerVazquez) October 2, 2025
DeSantis took a victory lap on social media: “Another bogus narrative bites the dust. I said all along that we would be reimbursed.” DeSantis also shredded the Democrats for their exaggerated reactions concerning the funding issue:
The governor also took aim at Florida Democrats, who, for weeks, slammed the DeSantis administration immediately after Alligator Alcatraz became operational, claiming Florida taxpayers were footing the bill for a function meant to serve federal immigration law.
“FL Dems are the dictionary definition of failure theater,” DeSantis said.
In addition to covering costs at “Alligator Alcatraz,” the FEMA grant money is also helping to fund “Deportation Depot,” the second temporary detention facility that opened in early September. And speculation is already swirling that some of the funds could be tapped for the “Panhandle Pokey,” a third facility DeSantis has said is in the early stages of planning.
“You’re in the Panhandle, sending to Alligator Alcatraz, that’s a long way,” DeSantis said. “Even sending to the Deportation Depot in North Florida, that could be three to five hours, depending on where you are in the Panhandle. And so, they were like, is there a way we can get a facility that’s going to be closer to us? And so we said, yes.”
DeSantis is running Florida like President Trump is running the country and it’s a glorious thing to behold.
