Cruel and unusual punishment was something that our nation put as a pillar to fight. The Eighth amendment to the constitution sought to fight against that. Regardless of this fact, however, for the past 10 months- since July 3- there has been an active immigration detention center intentionally located with alligators in the surround waters, informally known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz.’

Local students at several high schools- both in and out of the district- have shown their distaste towards ICE and the treatment of immigrants around the nation. There have been walkouts and protests to rally support and represent the right to assemble granted by the First Amendment. Regardless, however, of this accumulation of support against the behaviors of ICE, systems such as the alligator surrounded detention center remain functioning and open. 

Finally, after these 10 months of the center being in practice, it has been ordered to shut down and spend the next several weeks relocating each individual held inside. The centers capacity was filled to around 1,400 people at the time in which the order for removal was given. The shut down, however, is not due to the unjust nature of the location it’s self. Alligator Alcatraz is shutting down to the escalating costs of operation for the detention center. It is estimated that a surplus $300 million was spent on maintaining and operating the site beyond the initial hundreds of millions approved, and there is no confirmation on whether this additional funding will be reimbursed to the state’s taxes.