Judge Orders “Alligator Alcatraz” to Wind Down Operations

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration and the state of Florida to begin winding down operations at the controversial immigrant detention center in the Everglades, known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” citing environmental concerns.

In an 82-page ruling Thursday evening, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued a preliminary injunction. The order stops the government from transferring any more detainees to the site and halts further construction.

Removal of Temporary Infrastructure

Judge Williams directed the Trump administration to remove temporary fencing, industrial lighting, generators, and sewage and waste systems within 60 days.

This step follows a temporary restraining order issued two weeks earlier that blocked additional construction at the facility.

Environmental Concerns Take Center Stage

The lawsuit came from a coalition of environmental groups and a Native American Tribe. They argued that the government bypassed necessary environmental reviews before building the sprawling facility.

The judge sided with the plaintiffs, finding that Florida officials and the Trump administration violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). She warned that the project posed “irreparable harm” to the sensitive Everglades ecosystem.

“Plaintiffs have provided extensive evidence supporting their claims of significant ongoing and likely future environmental harms from the project,” Judge Williams wrote.

Upholding Longstanding Promises

The ruling highlights the importance of protecting the Everglades. The judge emphasized:

“Every Florida governor, every Florida senator, and countless local and national political figures, including presidents, have publicly pledged their unequivocal support for the restoration, conservation, and protection of the Everglades. This Order does nothing more than uphold the basic requirements of legislation designed to fulfill those promises.”

Reactions and Next Steps

Florida officials have already signaled plans to appeal the decision, filing a notice with the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Environmental groups hailed the ruling as a “landmark victory for the Everglades.”

“This brutal detention center was burning a hole in the fabric of life that supports our most iconic wetland and a whole host of endangered species, from majestic Florida panthers to wizened wood storks,” said Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades. “The judge’s order came just in time to stop it all from unraveling.”

Legal Context

Two major lawsuits challenged the facility. One focused on restricted legal access to the site, and the other targeted environmental violations. Earlier this week, a federal judge dismissed part of the lawsuit related to legal access after the Department of Justice designated a nearby immigration court for the facility.