‘Alligator Alcatraz’: Why Florida’s Controversial Detention Center Might Shut Down & What Comes Next

Nearly two months after Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ migrant detention camp opened in the Everglades, a US federal judge has ordered a pause on sending any more detainees there, according to a CNN report published Saturday. US District Judge Kathleen Williams issued a preliminary injunction Thursday following a lawsuit by environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, citing harm to endangered species and the sensitive ecosystem.

“The project creates irreparable harm in the form of habitat loss and increased mortality to endangered species in the area,” Williams wrote in her ruling, per CNN. The injunction, the report said, also bans any new construction, paving or industrial lighting, and demands removal of existing infrastructure supporting the facility.

Meanwhile, Florida’s Attorney General and Governor Ron DeSantis have condemned the ruling, with the latter reportedly calling judge Williams an “activist judge” and vowing to fight back. “We are not going to be deterred… We are totally in the right on this.” 

According to the report, the state is appealing the decision, with a spokesperson recently telling the media that they will respond accordingly.

Facility Under Fire for Inhumane Conditions

‘Alligator Alcatraz’ has faced harsh criticism since its rapid construction, with reports of detainees confined in cages amid extreme heat, bug infestations, and poor sanitation emerging more frequently in recent times. Members of Congress who toured the site described conditions as “inhumane”. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said detainees were “packed into cages, wall-to-wall humans, 32 detainees per cage,” with limited access to clean water, as reported by CNN.

Despite facing severe backlash from across circles, the detention facility remains operational with an estimated 400 detainees still being held inside. Calling the court ruling “a victory for the families who have endured unimaginable hardship”, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava stressed that the people “who have been held here have faced conditions that have shocked our community, our nation and in fact, the world.”

Environmental and Tribal Concerns at the Forefront

The Miccosukee Tribe, whose reservation lies near the facility, has also raised alarms about environmental damage and potential threats to tribal lands. The detention center is located near Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve, with both of these places known to be critical habitats for endangered species like the Florida panther.

Judge Williams underlined that the ICE facility violated the National Environmental Policy Act by skipping required environmental assessments before construction. The ruling further noted “paving approximately 800,000 square feet of land” and lighting that disrupts wildlife and tribal traditions.

Stressing that this is not the first fight “for our land and rights”, Talbert Cypress, chairman of the Miccosukee Tribe, told the news agency, “We will always stand up for our culture, our sovereignty, and for the Everglades.”

Florida’s Backup Plan? A ‘Deportation Depot’ and More Detention Sites

While fighting to keep ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ open, DeSantis also recently announced a new immigration detention center called ‘Deportation Depot’ near Jacksonville, which has been designed to hold 2,000 detainees for processing and deportation. 

Meanwhile, other American states, including Indiana and Nebraska, are also reportedly setting up similar facilities, based on cues from Florida’s model.

Legal experts say the injunction is temporary, pending appeals that could take months or years. Michael Romano of Stanford Law School explained, “If the appeal fails, they would then go for what’s called a permanent injunction… so it’s going to drag on for a while.”

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