Federal Judge Orders Closure of Controversial ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Immigration Detention Center in Florida Everglades
A federal court has issued a preliminary injunction against the temporary detention facility in Florida’s Everglades, popularly known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” prohibiting further admission of detainees and mandating the removal of additional infrastructure within 60 days.
The order was passed following a lawsuit filed by environmental groups and a Native American tribe over concerns regarding the facility’s potential impact on the environmentally sensitive area. The court order stipulates that no more detainees beyond those currently housed should be moved to the site.
Judge Kathleen Williams also instructed the removal of lighting, fencing, generators, and all waste facilities installed to support the project at Collier Dade Training and Transition Airport, effectively shutting down the facility.
Located deep in the Everglades’ marshy wetlands, “Alligator Alcatraz” has been embroiled in controversy since its inception. Critics have cited reports of hundreds of migrants confined in cages under sweltering heat, bug infestations, and meager meals during facility tours.
In her order, Judge Williams acknowledged that the population of the camp would naturally decrease within the next 60 days, implying the site’s closure.
Questions regarding the facility’s governance persist, with uncertainties surrounding whether it falls under federal or state jurisdiction. Florida claims it operates the temporary detention center under agreements between state and local agencies and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. However, daily operations and decisions about detainees are said to be in the hands of federal officials, while the state maintains control.
Critics argue this ambiguity concerning accountability and oversight is cause for concern.
Elise Pautler Bennet, an attorney representing one of the environmental groups involved in the lawsuit, praised Judge Williams’ ruling, stating, “We are relieved. The evidence presented in her order shows this was the right decision to protect the environment and the interests of Americans in the Everglades.”
The facility is surrounded by the Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, and the tribal lands of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, a plaintiff in the case.
Built on an airstrip and comprising repurposed FEMA trailers and tents, the hastily constructed detention center is less than two hours west of Miami. Initially touted as a necessary measure to alleviate the burden on state law enforcement agencies and jails amidst an influx of migrants, it was met with immediate opposition from environmental groups such as Friends of the Everglades, which was founded in 1969 to oppose construction on the same site.
US Representative Frederica Wilson, a Democrat from Florida, welcomed the ruling, stating, “It’s about damn time!” Wilson, who represents south Florida’s 24th congressional district, added, “It was cruel, careless, and destructive from the start and should have never been built. I’m glad it’s closing, and we must never repeat the mistakes made at this facility anywhere else!”
Two lawsuits challenging the facility are currently making their way through the federal court system, with one focusing on legal access for detainees.
In response to a request for comment, Alex Lanfranconi, communications director for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, simply stated, “The deportations will continue until morale improves.”
CNN reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and the Florida Division of Emergency Management for comment on the judge’s order but did not receive a response at the time of publication.