Environmental lawsuit targets immigrant detention center in Everglades
Environmental groups have filed a federal lawsuit against the construction of the “Alligator Alcatraz” illegal immigrant detention center near the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve. The lawsuit, filed by Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, alleges that officials did not assess the ecological impacts of building the detention center at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport.
The Trump administration recently approved the project, which will house 5,000 ICE detainees on a 30-square-mile property. The construction involves installing housing units, sanitation and food services systems, lighting infrastructure, diesel power generators, and using the runway to transport detainees. Environmental groups and Native Americans living in the reserve have protested outside the airport, concerned about additional pollution and harm to nearby wetlands, wildlife, and air and water quality.
The lawsuit claims that officials have unlawfully bypassed required environmental reviews and violated Miami-Dade County code. It also questions the Emergency Management’s authority to construct and manage a correctional center. Despite the legal challenge, construction work at the site continues as planned.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has defended the project, stating that it is temporary and will aid in enforcing President Trump’s mandate. The center, funded by the state, is expected to cost around $450 million annually to operate, with FEMA reimbursements covering some of the expenses.
As the legal battle unfolds, with the lawsuit naming top officials such as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, the fate of the “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center remains uncertain. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to pause construction at the site until environmental impacts are properly evaluated.
Miami-Dade County, Florida Emergency Management, and ICE have not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. The ongoing dispute highlights the tensions between immigration enforcement and environmental conservation in sensitive ecosystems like the Everglades.
