Judge Williams Issues TRO on Everglades Immigrant Detention Camp

Orlando, FL: A federal judge on Thursday ordered a temporary halt to construction at an immigration detention center — built in the middle of the Florida Everglades and dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” — as attorneys argue whether it violates environmental laws. The facility can continue to operate and hold detainees for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but workers will be barred from adding any new filling, paving or infrastructure for the next 14 days. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued the ruling during a hearing and said she will issue a written order later Thursday.

“Today’s federal injunction that pauses construction on the ICE detention facility in the heart of the Florida Everglades, known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” is a necessary and welcome step in stopping a project that never should have been approved in the first place. I commend environmental advocates and the Miccosukee Tribe for taking a stand against this ecological and moral failure, and I am honored to serve as an expert witness in this lawsuit. 

This facility is not only a threat to one of the most environmentally sensitive regions in the country. It is also a glaring example of how far the State of Florida will go to criminalize immigrants and ignore the long-term health of our natural resources. Constructed in direct conflict with the Everglades restoration efforts supported by taxpayers for decades, this project represents both environmental negligence and human rights violations.

I remain committed to protecting Florida’s land, water, and people. This court-ordered pause is a victory, but it is not the end. We will continue to challenge this project and work to ensure that no facility of this kind is allowed to impact our sensitive ecosystems or violate the rights of fellow Floridians.”

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