Overview
- DHS and ICE confirmed Tuesday that they transferred every person out of the South Florida Detention Facility in the Everglades, leaving the makeshift site empty.
- Federal and state officials did not report how many detainees were moved or where they were sent, and lawyers say clients were dispersed to facilities in multiple states, which has hindered attorney contact and family communication.
- The transfers follow sustained lawsuits and complaints alleging poor conditions, restricted legal access and environmental harm, with plaintiffs including Earthjustice, Friends of the Everglades, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Miccosukee Tribe.
- The tented, state‑built facility opened in July 2025 with roughly a 3,000‑bed capacity and has drawn intense political attention and more than $600 million in reported federal reimbursements and partial FEMA payments.
- Officials have not said whether the emptying is temporary or permanent, and advocates and attorneys say the move may reflect mounting legal, fiscal and political pressure as courts and watchdogs continue to press for remediation and oversight.