00:02Less than 15 months after opening with a presidential tour and plenty of fanfare,
00:08Florida's Alligator Alcatraz is closing.
00:11CBS News reports state officials have ordered the full demobilization
00:15of the controversial immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades,
00:19with contractors told to begin dismantling the site this week.
00:23The government transferred out the final detainees last week.
00:27Officials initially cited hurricane season concerns,
00:30but CBS reports the closure had been planned as part of a broader shutdown effort.
00:34The facility was championed by President Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis
00:38as a model for immigration enforcement
00:41and processed more than 20,000 detainees since opening last July.
00:45But it also faced criticism from immigration advocates and human rights groups over conditions inside,
00:51while the cost of operating the facility reportedly ballooned to about $1.2 billion.
00:57Once the teardown is complete,
00:59the site is expected to return to its previous use
01:02as a small airport and pilot training facility.
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