Florida wins $608 million federal reimbursement for ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention centre

Trucks come and go from the "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades. (AP)

Federal officials have approved Florida’s request for a $608 million reimbursement to cover the costs of building and operating a controversial immigration detention centre in the Everglades, widely known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”

The US Department of Homeland Security confirmed in an email on Friday that the full amount had been awarded, according to the Associated Press (AP) . However, the money has not yet been released. Stephanie Hartman, communications director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, told AP that the Federal Emergency Management Agency must first review the expenses before payments can be issued.

The approval could complicate ongoing legal batt