A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration and Florida officials to wind down operations at the immigrant detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Everglades. The ruling cites major environmental risks to one of America’s most sensitive ecosystems.
In an 82-page decision issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams granted a preliminary injunction stopping the transfer of any new detainees to the site. The ruling also halts all construction work and requires the removal of temporary fencing, industrial lighting, generators, and waste equipment within 60 days.
The judge found that the government violated the National Environmental Policy Act by bypassing required environmental reviews. She noted that evidence provided by plaintiffs showed “significant ongoing and likely future environmental harms” if the project continued.