The Alligator Alcatraz Center Will Close

May 13, 2026, 14:34

Introduction

Florida will close the Alligator Alcatraz center for immigrants next month.

Main Body

The center costs too much money. It costs more than $1 million every day. The state of Florida did not get money from the federal government, so they must stop the work. Some people say the center was bad. Human rights groups say the people there were sad and hurt. The government says this is not true. Other groups say the center hurt the land. They say the buildings destroyed nature and the land of the Miccosukee people. These groups want the state to clean the land now.

Conclusion

The center is closing. 1,400 people will leave the center soon.

Learning

⚡ THE 'MONEY' LOGIC

In English, when we talk about spending money, we use the word COST.

Pattern: Thing → costs → Amount

The center $\text{costs}$ too much money.
It $\text{costs}$ more than $1 million.

🌍 THE 'SAY' PATTERN

When we report what a group thinks, we use a very simple structure. This is a key A2 skill: moving from 'I think' to 'They say'.

Structure: Group $\rightarrow$ say $\rightarrow$ Opinion

Human rights groups $\rightarrow$ say $\rightarrow$ the people were sad.
The government $\rightarrow$ says $\rightarrow$ this is not true.
Other groups $\rightarrow$ say $\rightarrow$ the center hurt the land.

Note: We use SAYS for one group (singular) and SAY for many groups (plural).

⏳ NOW VS. SOON

Look at the timeline in the text:

Now: The state must clean the land now (Immediate).
Soon: 1,400 people will leave soon (In the future, but not far).

Vocabulary Learning

close (v.)

to shut or end something

Example:The center will close at 5 PM.

cost (v.)

to require money to buy or use something

Example:The center costs more than a million dollars.

state (n.)

a country or region with a government

Example:The state of Florida did not give money to the center.

government (n.)

the group that runs a country

Example:The government says the center is not true.

people (n.)

human beings

Example:One thousand people will leave the center soon.

land (n.)

ground or territory

Example:The groups want the state to clean the land.

buildings (n.)

structures with walls and a roof

Example:The buildings destroyed nature and the land.

clean (v.)

to remove dirt or make something tidy

Example:They want the state to clean the land now.