Detainees moved, companies told to demobilize at Alligator Alcatraz

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA — Questions are swirling about the future of the immigration detention facility known as Alligator Alcatraz.

Reports from CBS Miami surfaced Monday saying companies hired by the state to operate at the facility were told to begin demobilizing.

WINK News was at the site Monday, where people who have spent months monitoring the facility say they are still seeing activity that looks like business as usual.

Jessica Namath, founder of Floridians for Public Lands, said she is not convinced a closure is actually underway.

"I think that the secrecy and lack of transparency, in addition to not seeing anything happening, you know, leaves more questions than answers," Namath said.

She added that the activity on the ground does not match what officials are saying.

"We certainly aren't seeing the action that we saw in the early stages, and there is so much for them to bring out, that again, it's, it's hard, it's hard to take what they're saying at face value," Namath said.

During a press conference on Monday, Attorney General James Uthmeier spoke briefly about the facility, saying it was never meant to be a permanent operation.

"I do know that the people that we're bringing were being brought in for detention. That number was going down. That was always to be expected. I think Alligator Alcatraz actually stayed open longer than it was intentionally planned," Uthmeier said.

He also said the facility is meant to return to its original use as a training airport.

"The plan has always been to protect the Everglades and take it back to a protected area where it's not a commercial business, an airport," Uthmeier said.

This potential closure comes days after detainees were moved from the site. ICE said they were relocated ahead of hurricane season.

Political scientist Aubrey Jewett believes a closure is coming soon.

"So here we have it. It looks like it indeed is officially going to close down," Jewett said.

Uthmeier stopped short of confirming a closure, and questions remain about what the future holds for the facility and when operations there will officially come to an end.