Florida and Trump administration officials are discussing whether to close the Everglades immigration detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz”

Why are officials considering closing the facility?

Reports say Department of Homeland Security officials concluded the detention center is too expensive to keep operating, and the New York Times also reported that some homeland security officials viewed it as ineffective NYT,Newser.

What has Ron DeSantis said about the center’s future?

DeSantis said the site was always intended as a temporary facility and that Florida would dismantle it once the federal government had enough capacity to hold detainees elsewhere Owensboro Messenger…,U.S. News & World R….

What else has made the facility a focus of attention?

Beyond the possible shutdown talks, the center has drawn lawsuits and criticism tied to its construction and operation, including challenges from environmental and tribal groups and opposition from activists CBS News,POLITICO,Mediaite.