A federal judge in Miami has issued a significant ruling regarding the controversial "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration jail, ordering its closure within 60 days. This decision, made by district court judge Kathleen Williams late on Thursday, prohibits any new detainees from being brought to the facility while the shutdown process takes place. This ruling builds upon a temporary restraining order previously established by Williams two weeks prior, which halted further construction at the remote tented camp.
The "Alligator Alcatraz" facility has faced extensive criticism due to reports of harsh conditions, abuse of detainees, and significant denial of due process for individuals awaiting deportation. In her detailed 82-page order, released by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Judge Williams highlighted that the facility was inflicting severe and irreparable damage on the sensitive Florida Everglades ecosystem.
Moreover, she pointed out that a proposal to develop the land for a major tourist airport was rejected back in the 1960s due to the potential harm it would cause to the delicate environment. “Since that time, every Florida governor, every Florida senator, and countless local and national political figures, including presidents, have publicly pledged their unequivocal support for the restoration, conservation, and protection of the Everglades,” Williams stated. “This order does nothing more than uphold the basic requirements of legislation designed to fulfill those promises.”
The ruling prohibits any further construction at the site, ensuring that the current detainee population, estimated at around 700 individuals, will not increase. After the 60-day period concludes, all construction materials, fencing, generators, and fixtures that contributed to the facility's function as a detention camp must be removed. This decision marks a significant victory for a coalition of environmental groups and a Native American tribe that took legal action against both the state of Florida and the federal government.
Judge Williams agreed that the rapid construction of the jail, which took only eight days in late June, caused damage to the sensitive wetlands of a national preserve and threatened federally protected species. "This is a landmark victory for the Everglades and countless Americans who believe this imperiled wilderness should be protected, not exploited," stated Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades, one of the groups involved in the lawsuit. “It sends a clear message that environmental laws must be respected by leaders at the highest levels of our government, and there are consequences for ignoring them.”
In the wake of this ruling, the coalition plans to hold a press conference to elaborate on the implications of the court's decision. Conversely, this ruling is a setback for the detention and deportation agenda championed by the Trump administration. The president had previously described the camp as a facility for “some of the most vicious people on the planet,” despite the fact that many detainees have no criminal records or active criminal proceedings against them.
As of now, there has not been an immediate response from the Florida Department of Emergency Management, which operates the jail under the auspices of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, or from the Department of Homeland Security. However, lawyers for the state indicated in court that they plan to appeal any adverse ruling, as reported by the Miami Herald. In preparation for the potential closure, hundreds of detainees were reportedly moved from "Alligator Alcatraz" to other immigration facilities over the weekend.
