Appeals Court Temporarily Halts Closure of Alligator Alcatraz Detention Center

An appeals court has paused the enforcement of a federal judge’s order to shut down operations at Alligator Alcatraz, the controversial immigration detention facility in the Everglades that opened in July. The center, built hastily on a remote airstrip by Big Cypress National Preserve, has faced numerous reports of operational issues and inhumane conditions.

Last month, US District Judge Kathleen Williams ordered the dismantling of infrastructure such as fencing, lighting, and generators at the site, and halted the transfer of detainees. The lawsuit, filed by environmental groups, contended that the facility was constructed without the necessary environmental review, violating the National Environmental Policy Act. Florida officials argued that since the facility was operated by the state, federal environmental laws did not apply.

The detention center, designed to hold immigrants, some without prior arrests, has been plagued with problems such as malfunctioning air conditioning, limited food, and a significant mosquito problem. Detainees are housed in large tents with multiple beds and toilets. While officials initially claimed the facility would primarily detain individuals with criminal records, the majority of detainees have no criminal history.

Judge Williams’s ruling supported environmental concerns, emphasizing that the camp was primarily for federal immigration enforcement. Florida’s Attorney General announced an appeal, and a three-judge panel in Atlanta granted a temporary stay on the ruling, ruling that federal funding is necessary for environmental review and that the state’s funding source exempts it from NEPA requirements.

“Alligator Alcatraz is in fact, like we always said, open for business.”

Florida officials celebrated the decision, with Governor Ron DeSantis declaring the center “open for business” and promising continued immigration enforcement efforts. Conversely, environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, which opposes the facility’s proximity to their lands, expressed disappointment but vowed to continue fighting through legal channels.