Multiple environmental groups have filed a federal lawsuit Friday, challenging the construction of the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention center near the Everglades, which is set to house 5,000 ICE detainees. The lawsuit, filed by Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, alleges that officials failed to properly assess the project’s environmental impact, violating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and local regulations. The 30-square-mile site, located near the Big Cypress National Preserve, is being developed on the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, an area previously used for military training. The lawsuit names several senior officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, and Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, as defendants in the case.
Despite the legal challenge, the Trump administration has moved quickly to implement the project, with construction already underway. The site, described as a ‘force multiplier’ by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, will be funded through state resources and will receive annual reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The governor has emphasized that the center is temporary, stating that it will be dismantled once its purpose is fulfilled, promising no long-term impact on the region. However, critics, including DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, have dismissed the suit as a political maneuver, arguing that the land has been used for multiple purposes for over a decade and thus no new environmental review is necessary.
The lawsuit contends that the installation of housing units, sanitation systems, lighting infrastructure, diesel-powered generators, and the use of the airport’s runway for detainee transport will cause significant harm to the surrounding wetlands, wildlife, and air and water quality. Environmental advocates and Native American communities living near the preserve have also protested the project, calling on officials to protect their homeland from additional pollution. The case now faces a critical hearing in the Southern District of Florida, where the court will determine whether the construction can continue while the legal challenge plays out. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for future projects involving environmental impact assessments.