Judge Orders Temporary Halt to Construction of Florida’s Controversial ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Migrant Detention Camp

MIAMI — A Florida judge has paused construction at the “Alligator Alcatraz,” a controversial migrant detention center in the Florida Everglades. This decision comes amid claims that the site was built without following environmental laws.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams made her ruling after two days of hearings. For the next 14 days, no new construction can occur. This includes filling, paving, or putting up new infrastructure. However, it won’t affect the center’s ongoing immigration operations.

The lawsuit, filed by environmental groups, argues the facility opened in July without the proper ecological reviews mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act. They claim there was no public notice or opportunity to comment on the project. It also allegedly did not adhere to several state and federal laws, including the Endangered Species Act.

Judge Williams had a tense exchange with state and federal attorneys when discussing the construction. “I don’t want to wake up on Monday to find changes have been made,” she said. She emphasized that the plaintiffs were not trying to shut down the center, but just wanted to pause construction, which she viewed as a reasonable request.

The facility has faced protests from environmentalists and Native Americans due to its location in a sensitive wetland area. Christopher McVoy, an environmental expert involved in the lawsuit, reported seeing significant pavement and increased traffic at the site.

In a recent survey, over 40,000 people voiced their opposition to the detention center through the Friends of the Everglades organization. Concerns include runoff contamination, light pollution from industrial-style lights that are visible from miles away, and increased traffic hazards.

Jessica Namath, daughter of former NFL star Joe Namath and a member of the Friends of the Everglades, described the alarming changes to the landscape, noting it looks “heartbreakingly different.”

The facility is also facing legal scrutiny for alleged poor treatment of detainees. Reports highlight conditions such as overcrowding, unsanitary living spaces, and inhumane practices. Civil rights lawyers have filed claims stating that detainees have limited access to legal representation and are often held without charges.

This case highlights ongoing tensions between environmental preservation and immigration enforcement, reflecting broader controversies surrounding the Trump administration’s immigration policies. In the face of mounting public opposition and legal challenges, the future of “Alligator Alcatraz” remains uncertain.

For more information, you can read the recent report by NBC Miami.

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