Amid battles about the detention center dubbed " Alligator Alcatraz ," the Trump administration has awarded $608 million to Florida for the state's immigrant-detention efforts, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security official confirmed Thursday.

The funds came from $150 billion Congress funneled to the Federal Emergency Management Agency this year to assist with President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.

Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration sought federal money to cover the costs of Alligator Alcatraz, which is in the Everglades. The state opened another immigrant-detention center in Baker County last month.

Legal firestorm over environmental compliance

The Everglades facility, which began accepting detainees in July, has sparked legal challenges.

One of the lawsuits a

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