Appeals court allows “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center to resume operations
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Federal Appeals Court Halts Order to Close “Alligator Alcatraz” Immigration Detention Center
A federal appeals court has put a stop to a lower court judge’s order to shut down operations indefinitely at the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center located in the Florida Everglades. The panel voted 2-1 to stay the judge’s order while an appeal is pending, allowing the facility to continue holding migrant detainees for the time being.
Last month, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued a preliminary injunction blocking Florida from expanding the detention center further and ordering operations to wind down by the end of October. The judge also instructed the state to transfer detainees to other facilities and remove equipment and fencing.
The lawsuit that led to these rulings was brought by Friends of the Everglades, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Miccosukee Tribe. They accused state and federal officials of failing to comply with federal law, which requires an environmental review for the detention center. The groups argue that the facility poses a threat to sensitive wetlands that are home to protected plants and animals.
Controversy Surrounding “Alligator Alcatraz”
In June, Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration swiftly constructed the facility at a single-runway training airport in the Everglades to support former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Trump visited the facility in July and suggested that it could serve as a model for similar facilities across the country to facilitate mass deportations.
Reacting to the recent court ruling, Governor DeSantis stated that the claims of the facility closing were false and that “Alligator Alcatraz” would remain operational.
The Department of Homeland Security praised the appeals court’s decision, calling it a victory for the rule of law and common sense. They emphasized that the lawsuit was not about the environmental impact of converting an airport into a detention center but rather about activists and judges hindering law enforcement efforts to remove criminal aliens from communities.
Future of the Facility
Despite the temporary halt in the closure of “Alligator Alcatraz,” the plaintiffs remain determined to see the facility shut down eventually. They argue that the harm it causes to the Everglades cannot be justified.
While Florida officials have indicated their intention to resume accepting detainees at the facility, the legal battle is far from over. The plaintiffs maintain that because Florida funded the project independently, it falls outside federal environmental review requirements, even though it houses federal detainees.
As the case continues to unfold, the fate of “Alligator Alcatraz” hangs in the balance, with environmental concerns and legal challenges shaping its future.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
