A federal judge has ordered Florida and the Trump administration to stop bringing new detainees to “Alligator Alcatraz,” an immigration detention center built on an abandoned airstrip near the Big Cypress National Preserve.
The Miami Herald is reporting that Judge Kathleen Williams said the facility must scale back operations within 60 days and that all equipment—including generators, fencing, and lighting—must be removed over the next nine weeks. The ruling means the site will eventually be uninhabitable.
Williams explained that detainees will continue to be transferred out during this time, and she expects the shutdown to be handled “in a safe, humane, and responsible manner.”
Environmental and Tribal Concerns
The lawsuit was brought by environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe. They argued the detention center caused “irreparable” harm to the Everglades because it was built without any environmental studies.
Judge Williams agreed, writing that the site threatens endangered species like the Florida Panther and the Florida bonneted bat. She pointed out that rainwater runoff from the newly paved areas would flow into tribal lands and that bright lights visible from 30 miles away would disrupt the ecosystem.
She also criticized the state and federal governments for seizing the airstrip and rushing construction without doing any research on the impact to the environment.
Williams even quoted President Harry Truman’s 1947 speech when he dedicated Everglades National Park, saying political leaders across decades have promised to protect the Everglades. “This order,” she wrote, “does nothing more than uphold those promises.”
A Blow to DeSantis and Trump
The ruling is a setback for Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump, who promoted the detention center as a model for the country. When it opened on July 1, they even claimed the surrounding alligators would act as a natural barrier against escape attempts.
But according to the Miami Herald, the number of detainees has already dropped from about 1,400 in July to fewer than 400 this week, after a previous court order stopped new transfers. Florida is already planning to open a new detention center in north Florida.
The state quickly appealed the ruling. A spokesperson for DeSantis said, “The deportations will continue until morale improves.”
Supporters Celebrate the Decision
Environmental groups called the ruling a major win. Friends of the Everglades said it proves environmental laws “must be respected by leaders at the highest levels of government.”
The Miccosukee Tribe also praised the decision. Chairman Talbert Cypress said: “We will always stand up for our culture, our sovereignty, and for the Everglades. When it comes to our homeland, there is no compromise.”
Ongoing Legal Battles
This case is not the only legal challenge tied to the site. Another lawsuit argued that detainees were being held there without due process and that attorney conversations were not private. That case was moved to a different court district, but Judge Williams made clear that her ruling focused on environmental harm.
In her decision, Williams noted that the detention camp was clearly tied to the federal government, despite claims that it was only run by the state. She wrote, “If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, then it’s a duck.”
👉 In short: Judge Williams ordered the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center to shut down because of its environmental impact on the Everglades. Florida has appealed, but for now, detainees are being moved out and environmental groups are calling it a landmark victory.