A federal judge has handed down an injunction, effectively shutting down the controversial immigrant detention center in the Everglades, commonly referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz,” citing serious environmental concerns.
In a detailed ruling spanning 82 pages issued on Thursday night, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams prohibited the federal government and the state of Florida from transferring any new detainees to this facility or undertaking any new construction.
Moreover, the judge instructed that all temporary fencing, industrial lighting, generators, and waste disposal units must be removed within 60 days.
A coalition, including various environmental organizations and a Native American Tribe, filed a lawsuit against the facility. They contended that the government had overlooked essential environmental reviews before building this expansive site. The court agreed with the plaintiffs, concluding that state officials and the Trump administration failed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, thereby threatening the already fragile ecosystem of the Everglades.
The judge noted, “Plaintiffs have presented considerable evidence of significant environmental damage that is currently happening and is likely to continue in the future due to the project.”
This ruling follows a temporary restraining order that Williams had issued two weeks prior, which halted any further construction at Alligator Alcatraz.
This precedent-setting injunction stands as one of the prominent exercises of environmental law used to contest actions taken by the Trump administration. In her order, Judge Williams stated, “Throughout history, Florida’s leaders, including governors, senators, and past presidents, have vowed to uphold the conservation and restoration of the Everglades. This ruling simply reinforces the necessary legal standards mandated to honor those commitments.”
In response, Florida officials have already initiated plans to appeal this decision, formally submitting a notice of appeal in federal court.
The environmental advocates celebrating this ruling d it a “historic win for the Everglades.” Eve Samples, the director of Friends of the Everglades, remarked, “This harsh detention center was damaging our vital wetlands and the diverse wildlife they harbor, like the magnificent Florida panthers and wise wood storks. The judge’s order has come the opportunity needed to prevent this disaster from escalating.”
There have been two significant lawsuits contesting the facility’s operation—one concerning legal access disputes and another centered on environmental issues. Recently, a judge dismissed part of the concerns linked to legal access, citing the Department of Justice’s designation of a nearby immigration court associated with Alligator Alcatraz.
