New Allegations of Cronyism Emerge at “Alligator Alcatraz” America’s Newest Immigration Facility
A day after our exclusive report on unsafe conditions inside the immigrant detention site at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, new allegations are surfacing—this time about cronyism and political favoritism.
July 16, 2025
By Nick Valencia
New allegations are surfacing that raise even deeper concerns about “Alligator Alcatraz” including the way its operating contract was awarded.
A day after our exclusive report uncovered serious safety and operational failures inside the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport known more commonly as “Alligator Alcatraz”—the company now running the facility, Comprehensive Risk Services (CRS), has installed a director with no prior experience in a warden or detention leadership role, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
“What they’re doing there just doesn’t make sense,” the source with knowledge of internal operations told Nick Valencia News. “Sounds like a good old boy system.”
The Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport (TNT) is not just a remote facility tucked into the Everglades—it’s fast becoming a symbol of cronyism and mismanagement. It’s being used as a temporary immigrant detention site, with insiders alleging a quid pro quo arrangement between Florida officials and CRS.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM)—an agency overseen by Governor Ron DeSantis—was placed in charge of overseeing the site after federal authorities delegated the responsibility. A source with knowledge of the agreement said FDEM has worked with CRS in the past during emergency response efforts, and when it came time to award the contract, CRS came in as the lowest bidder.
“This isn’t going to the best of the best,” a source said. “It’s going to the lowest bidder—and it’s starting to show.”
In our initial report, our source described chaotic conditions inside: detainees being transferred without proper documentation, classification protocols being ignored, and agents unclear about who was even in custody. That dysfunction now appears to be compounded by inexperience at the top and questionable contract practices. The revolving door of senior leadership is taking its toll.
The question now isn’t just what’s happening inside TNT—but why it was allowed to happen at all.
CRS has still not returned our request for comment.
We have reached out to the Florida Governor’s Office for comment and are waiting for a response.