In a landmark decision, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Mary Williams has ordered the dismantling of a contentious immigration detention center located in the Florida Everglades. The facility, often referred to by critics as 'Alligator Alcatraz', must cease operations and be fully decommissioned within the next 60 days. This ruling also prohibits any new detainees from being admitted to the center.
The detention center in question was inaugurated in July under the Trump administration, with Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida as a key proponent. It quickly became a significant element of the administration's deportation strategy, with President Trump himself lauding it as an "incredible" achievement during a notable visit alongside DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Governor DeSantis. The center, designed to hold up to 3,000 detainees, has been a polarizing issue, with Trump advocating for similar facilities to be established across the United States.
Judge Williams, in her 82-page order, questioned the justification for placing the facility within the sensitive ecosystem of the Everglades. She pointed out the state's failure to consider alternative locations and the rush to construct the detention camp without proper regard for environmental impacts. The plaintiffs, including the Miccosukee Native American Tribe and environmental groups, had argued that the center's operations threatened the wetlands' protected species and could derail extensive environmental restoration efforts already underway.
The ruling is seen as a significant judicial rebuke of Trump's hardline immigration policies, particularly following his 2024 election victory that was largely predicated on the removal of migrants he described as "the worst of the worst." The facility's swift construction at a minimally used airport in the Everglades and its subsequent operation had drawn considerable criticism, with allegations of abuse and denial of due process against detainees.
In response to the court's decision, Governor DeSantis's Communications Director Alex Lanfranconi stated, "The deportations will continue until morale improves." However, the Miccosukee Tribe Chairman Talbert Cypress and Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades, welcomed the ruling as a victory for environmental laws and the rights of the land and its indigenous people.
As the center faces its ordered shutdown, it can only undergo modifications for safety purposes or to mitigate environmental risks. The court's ruling not only highlights the tension between immigration enforcement and legal and environmental considerations but also sets a precedent for the scrutiny of future detention facilities in environmentally sensitive areas.
