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13h ago

Judge Orders 'Alligator Alcatraz' to Wind Down in 60 Days as Florida Appeals

The court found the Everglades site likely falls under federal environmental review because immigration enforcement and funding drove the project.

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

  • U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams barred new detainee transfers, halted further construction, and directed removal of generators, fencing, lighting, and other installations within roughly two months.
  • Florida filed an appeal to the 11th Circuit and is seeking to pause the injunction, while White House border czar Tom Homan said ICE will continue arrests and move detainees to other facilities.
  • A separate class-action lawsuit filed by the ACLU and partners argues Florida lacks authority under 287(g) to operate the detention center or delegate immigration detention to private contractors.
  • Advocates and visiting officials have reported overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, limited food, and restricted access to attorneys, allegations that remain at issue in ongoing civil-rights litigation.
  • Gov. Ron DeSantis is pursuing a backup plan to expand detention capacity at Baker Correctional Institution, as the administration seeks more beds nationally and related Everglades challenges proceed in court.