Federal Appeals Court Halts Order to End Operations at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Immigration Detention Center
A federal appeals court on Thursday halted a lower court judge’s order to end operations indefinitely at the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, allowing the facility to continue holding migrant detainees pending the outcome of an appeal. The decision, issued by a three-judge panel, came after a split vote with two judges siding with the state and one dissenting.
The ruling is a significant setback for environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, which had successfully secured an injunction from U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams to phase out the operation of the facility and stop its expansion. The judge had ordered the Florida government to reduce the facility’s operations by the end of October, transfer detainees to other facilities, and remove equipment and fencing to mitigate environmental damage.
However, the appeals court ruled in favor of the state, issuing a stay that temporarily halts the implementation of the injunction. The court’s 2-1 decision means the facility can continue operating for now while the legal appeal proceeds. The appeals court found the plaintiffs’ argument that the facility is outside federal environmental review requirements to be persuasive, despite the fact that many detainees are held under federal jurisdiction.
The lawsuit was brought by the Friends of the Everglades, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Miccosukee Tribe, which argued that the facility violates environmental laws and threatens the delicate ecosystems of the Everglades. They claim that the center, built on a former airport, disrupts the natural habitat of protected species and endangers the wetlands that sustain the region.
Governor Ron DeSantis, who oversaw the facility’s construction as part of his support for former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, has dismissed the environmental concerns, calling the facility a necessary step in enforcing immigration law. DeSantis stated on social media that claims of the facility’s imminent closure are false and vowed to continue its operations.
The Department of Homeland Security has also defended the decision, framing the case as a legal battle against ‘open-borders activists’ and ‘judges’ who are allegedly obstructing law enforcement. They have argued that the plaintiffs’ focus on environmental issues is a distraction from the broader issue of immigration enforcement and border security.
Environmental advocates, however, remain skeptical, warning that the facility’s harmful impact on the Everglades will ultimately lead to its closure, regardless of current legal developments. They have emphasized that the state’s decision to fund the project itself has been a key point in their argument, suggesting that the facility is not subject to federal environmental review standards, despite housing federal detainees.
As the legal battle continues, the fate of the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ facility remains uncertain, with its operations now temporarily preserved under the appeals court’s ruling. The case highlights the ongoing tension between immigration enforcement policies and environmental protection efforts, with both sides vying for a legal and political advantage.