Controversy Surrounds Everglades Detention Center: Contractor Companies Face Corruption Probe

An investigative report by the Miami Herald has shed light on allegations of fraud, overpricing, and embezzlement involving five companies contracted by Florida to construct and manage the migrant detention center dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," located in the Everglades. These revelations come at a critical juncture—just days after a federal judge ordered the camp's permanent closure due to "irreparable" environmental damage and amid several lawsuits alleging human rights violations against migrants detained there.

Contractors Under Scrutiny

Among those named is SLSCO, a Texas-based contractor that had previously managed over $1.4 billion in federal contracts for building the border wall in 2019. The company has been accused of allowing armed, undocumented Mexicans to work as guards, and later, it was reported to have charged inflated rates at New York shelters for asylum seekers. Garner Environmental Services is also under the spotlight for billing services at rates significantly higher than what New York City or other contractors paid for similar functions.

IRG Global Emergency Management, another implicated company, secured multimillion-dollar contracts for transportation and emergency services at Alligator Alcatraz. Its executives have been linked to companies sued for inflating insurance claims following hurricanes in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana—a case that concluded with an out-of-court settlement this year.

The Canadian conglomerate GardaWorld, responsible for logistical support, also faces scrutiny. A journalistic investigation revealed that their armored trucks were involved in numerous fatal accidents due to mechanical failures and poorly trained drivers. Finally, CDW Government, the center's electronics supplier, admitted to being under a Justice Department investigation for alleged fraud in federal contracts. Back in 2013, it paid $5.6 million to settle a similar case involving the sale of products made in prohibited countries like China.

Neither the office of Governor Ron DeSantis nor Florida's Division of Emergency Management provided answers regarding the vetting process for these contracts. The only official statement claimed that full records were removed from the public portal due to "proprietary information."

A Center Mired in Controversy

The findings about the contractors reinforce the perception of a project plagued by opacity and allegations since it opened in July 2025. Before Judge Kathleen Williams ordered the camp's dismantling within 60 days, the facility was already embroiled in legal battles. Civil rights attorneys highlighted that migrants were coerced into signing deportation orders without legal representation. Previous hearings revealed that detainees communicated with their lawyers in non-confidential video calls, under staff supervision.

Environmental litigation also emerged, led by the Miccosukee tribe and environmental groups, which secured temporary construction suspensions by arguing that the center violated federal laws and endangered species. Testimonies from migrants and lawyers painted a grim picture of inhumane conditions: tents without ventilation, worm-infested food, overflowing toilets, constant electrical failures, and mosquito infestations in extreme heat.

A Contested Model

Despite these issues, Governor DeSantis defended the project as part of his stricter immigration strategy and even announced plans for a second center at a northern Florida military base. Both he and Donald Trump touted Alligator Alcatraz as a blueprint for future facilities. However, the accumulation of court rulings, abuse allegations, and now revelations about contractors with dubious records cast doubt on the state's management of the center.

For environmentalists and indigenous groups, the closure of Alligator Alcatraz is a historic victory. For civil rights advocates, the fraud and corruption accusations against the companies indicate that the prison not only violated environmental and humanitarian laws but also fueled a network of opaque business dealings under the guise of immigration security.

The immediate future suggests a prolonged legal battle in federal courts, yet the political outcome is evident: the project once heralded as a symbol of immigration control in Florida has become emblematic of irregularities, abuses, and lack of transparency.