TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A senior Florida official has indicated that the controversial immigration detention facility in the Everglades, known as "Alligator Alcatraz," is likely to be empty within days. This statement comes as the state government, led by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, and federal authorities contest a judge's order to close the facility by late October.

In an email dated August 22, Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, informed South Florida Rabbi Mario Rojzman that the facility would likely have no detainees soon. He stated, "we are probably going to be down to 0 individuals within a few days." Both Rojzman and the executive assistant who sent the email confirmed its authenticity.

The facility was built rapidly two months ago with a capacity for 3,000 detainees, part of a broader initiative during President Donald Trump's administration to deport undocumented immigrants. At its peak, the facility housed nearly 1,000 detainees. However, U.S. Representative Maxwell Frost reported that only 300 to 350 detainees remained as of last week.

Three lawsuits have been filed against the detention center, with one estimating that at least 100 detainees have been deported since its opening. Others have been moved to different immigration detention centers.

The news of the potential closure follows a federal judge's order in Miami, which mandated that the facility cease operations and release its last detainee within 60 days. The state of Florida has appealed this decision, while the federal government requested that U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams stay her order, arguing that the facility's capacity is essential due to overcrowding in other Florida detention centers.

Environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, who initiated the lawsuit leading to the judge's ruling, opposed the federal government's request. They argue that the Everglades facility is unnecessary, especially as Florida plans to open another detention center in northern Florida, referred to by DeSantis as "Deportation Depot."

As of Wednesday, Judge Williams had not yet ruled on the request to stay her order. She indicated that the facility's population should decrease within 60 days as detainees are transferred elsewhere, after which the facility's infrastructure, including fencing and generators, should be dismantled.

The lawsuits filed by environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe contend that the facility's construction and operation violate federal environmental laws. They assert that the facility poses a threat to sensitive wetlands, which are home to protected species, and could jeopardize decades of environmental restoration efforts.

By late July, state officials had already committed over $245 million in contracts for the facility's construction and operation at a remote airport in the Everglades. The center officially opened on July 1. Civil rights attorneys have reported severe issues at the facility, including detainees being held for weeks without charges, disappearing from ICE's online locator, and a lack of initial custody or bond determinations. Detainees have also reported unsanitary conditions, including food contamination and inadequate sanitation facilities.