OCHOPEE, Fla. — A large alligator was seen roaming outside of the immigration detention center in Collier County that bares its nickname, an ironic symbol for a controversial facility that’s tightly guarded day and night.

In Tallahassee on Monday, a State Senate Appropriations Committee tackled how funds are allocated for the center known as Alligator Alcatraz, funds that have come from Florida’s multi-billion dollar emergency fund.

Illegal immigration is recognized as a State of Emergency by a previous executive order from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and the fund pays for anti-mass migration efforts, along with other man-made and natural disasters.

“We’ve heard reports that come summer time, there may be not a need for the detention center in the Everglades, as some people call it Alligator Alcatraz,” said State Sen. Ed Hooper, a republican who represents parts of Pinellas and Pasco counties.

DeSantis has long called the facility temporary, but the price tag for taxpayers is significant. Some estimates suggest the state-run detention center constructed of tents and trailers costs $1.2 million per day to operate.

“We hope that reimbursement is as was promised, and the federal government for better or worse seems to always take time to do the ledgers of the dollars flowing, but we anticipate getting that money back,” said Hooper.

Monday’s hearing, aimed at tightening the spending guardrails for the use of those emergency funds, ended without a final resolution.

“You have a blank slate,” said Karen Woodall with the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy. “Please take the opportunity to push for true emergency response funds that is limited to natural disasters with the guardrails that were in it from the house bill.”

Florida lawmakers discuss who will foot bill for Alligator Alcatraz

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Terrell Forney