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1h ago

Judge Orders 60-Day Wind-Down of Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' Detention Camp

The court found federal involvement made the Everglades project subject to environmental review under NEPA and the Endangered Species Act.

Holey Land Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area in the Everglades, Florida.
People take part in a boat tour in Everglades National Park in Florida on May 6, 2024.
Work progresses on a new migrant detention facility dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility in the Florida Everglades on July 4.

Overview

  • An 82-page preliminary injunction bars new detainee transfers, freezes construction, and requires removal of added generators, fencing, lighting, and waste systems within two months.
  • U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams concluded federal immigration enforcement and pledged funding were the key drivers of the state-built site, triggering federal environmental obligations.
  • Florida filed an immediate appeal, and Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized the ruling as judicial overreach while vowing to press ahead with deportation efforts.
  • White House border czar Tom Homan said ICE will continue arrests and relocate detainees to other facilities as needed, as Florida plans alternatives such as a Baker County "Deportation Depot."
  • Separate litigation challenges Florida’s authority under 287(g) to run the facility and alleges barriers to attorney access, with portions of the access case shifted to Florida’s Middle District.