MIAMI (AP) – A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction halting further expansion and mandating the winding down of an immigration detention center located in the Florida Everglades, which has been referred to as "Alligator Alcatraz." Environmental advocates claim that the facility violates federal environmental laws.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams formalized a temporary halt to construction that she had previously ordered two weeks prior, as witnesses participated in a multi-day hearing to decide whether to stop construction until the case is fully resolved. Following the ruling, the state of Florida filed a notice of appeal late Thursday.
In response to the ruling, a spokesperson for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated, "The deportations will continue until morale improves." Judge Williams anticipates that the facility's population will diminish within the next 60 days due to the transfer of detainees to other facilities. Once this occurs, the state is expected to remove fencing, lighting, and generators from the site. The order restricts the state and federal defendants from bringing new detainees into the facility.
Williams emphasized that state officials failed to adequately justify the site selection in the environmentally sensitive area of the Everglades, stating, "What is apparent, however, is that in their haste to construct the detention camp, the State did not consider alternative locations." She cited the long-standing efforts over decades to preserve the Everglades as justification for her injunction, which grants time for legal compliance with necessary environmental assessments.
In her ruling, Williams referred to decades of political pledges by various Florida governors, senators, and national leaders to restore and protect the Everglades, asserting that her order upholds essential aspects of environmental legislation that fulfill these commitments. The facility has become controversial amid claims that its construction threatens protected wetlands and could reverse significant investments in environmental restoration.
Environmental organizations and the Miccosukee Tribe have consistently argued for the cessation of construction and operations until the facility adheres to federal environmental regulations. They contend that the project endangers crucial wetlands, harming wildlife and destabilizing ecosystems that have been under extensive restoration efforts.
Eve Samples, the executive director of Friends of the Everglades, hailed the ruling as a landmark victory for environmental preservation efforts in the region. "It sends a clear message that environmental laws must be respected… and there are consequences for ignoring them," Samples stated.
Miccosukee Tribe Chairman Talbert Cypress affirmed the tribe's commitment to defending its cultural and environmental rights, emphasizing their historical fight for sovereignty in the Everglades. Attorneys representing state and federal defendants had previously contended that the facility's operation and construction fell entirely under state jurisdiction, thus claiming that federal environmental laws were inapplicable. However, Judge Williams maintained that the detention facility constitutes a partnership between state and federal entities.
The detention center, erected hastily approximately two months ago at a little-used airport within the Everglades, currently houses several hundred detainees, with future plans to accommodate up to 3,000 individuals. Reports from detainees describe poor living conditions, including inadequate food safety, sanitation issues, and limited access to legal resources. Environmental testimonies during the hearing indicated that extensive paving since the construction began could increase harmful runoff into nearby wetlands and threaten endangered species.
In light of the ongoing legal disputes, a separate lawsuit regarding detainee access to the legal system was partially dismissed earlier in the week, with remaining counts being transferred to another court. Additionally, the Florida administration appears to be contemplating the development of another immigration detention center at a nearby National Guard training facility.
