A federal judge on Thursday ordered the partial dismantling of the controversial migrant detention facility in the Florida Everglades known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” delivering a significant blow to state and federal efforts to expand immigration enforcement.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, an Obama appointee, ruled that Florida must halt all expansion activities at the site and remove “generators, gas, sewage, and other waste and waste receptacles that were installed to support this project” within 60 days. She also barred officials from transferring additional detainees there beyond those already held, according to The Hill.
In an 82-page opinion, Williams stressed the environmental damage posed by the facility, writing that it creates “irreparable harm in the form of habitat loss and increased mortality to endangered species in the area.” She ordered the removal of temporary fencing to restore access for members of the Miccosukee Tribe, whose use of the land had been restricted by construction.
The ruling was hailed as a victory by environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, who argued the hastily erected compound violated the National Environmental Policy Act by bypassing mandatory environmental impact reviews. Their lawsuit, filed in June, emphasized risks to the fragile Everglades ecosystem and its wildlife, including the endangered Florida panther.
Built at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee, the facility opened last month with capacity for 5,000 migrants housed in tents behind chain-link fencing. It has faced criticism for harsh conditions, with detainees citing inadequate air conditioning, insect infestations, and contaminated food.
Governor Ron DeSantis defended the project as having “zero environmental impacts” and described it as essential for immigration enforcement. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem likewise praised the site as a model for state-run detention centers. Williams’ ruling, however, directly challenged those claims, pointing to both ecological damage and the curtailment of tribal access.
The decision lands amid a flurry of litigation. Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz dismissed parts of a separate lawsuit alleging detainees were denied adequate access to legal counsel. Florida is expected to appeal Williams’ ruling and seek a stay to keep the facility operating while the case proceeds.
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment. For now, the future of “Alligator Alcatraz” remains uncertain, as environmental advocates and tribal leaders vow to continue pressing their case to protect the Everglades.
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