A federal judge in Miami has ordered the closure of the Migratory Detention Center known as “Aligator Alcatraz“, established during the administration of Donald Trump in the Everglades . The judge determined that the construction and operation of the facility caused irreparable damage to the ecosystem.
The ruling by Judge Kathleen Williams mandates that the facility must be dismantled within a maximum period of 60 days and prohibits the admission of new detainees during this timeframe. This decision builds upon a temporary injunction issued two weeks prior, halting any attempts at expanding the camp.
In her 82-page judgment, Williams highlighted the violations of fundamental principles of environmental protection that Florida and U.S. authorities had pledged to uphold for decades. The judge stated, “Since then, each Governor of Florida, each Senator of Florida, and various political figures, including presidents, have publicly promised their unequivocal support to the restoration, conservation, and protection of the Everglades. This ruling enforces basic requirements of the legislation designed to fulfill those promises.”
The order stipulates that no additional construction can occur on the site and that the current detainee population, estimated at around 700, cannot be increased. After the 60-day period lapses, all materials such as fences, generators, and other facilities must be dismantled and removed.
This decision marks a significant victory for a coalition of environmental organizations and the Miccosukee native tribe, who had filed a lawsuit against state and federal authorities. Their argument emphasized that the prison, hastily built in just eight days on an abandoned airstrip , posed significant threats to a national reserve and compromised federally protected species.
Eve Samples, Executive Director of the Friends of the Everglades organization, celebrated the ruling as a significant victory for ecological conservation. “This is a historic triumph for the Everglades and all Americans who believe that this endangered ecosystem must be protected, not exploited,” she highlighted. “It sends a clear message that environmental laws must be respected by leaders at the highest levels and that there are consequences to willfully ignoring them.”
The center was capable of housing up to 1,400 immigrants in temporary tents. President Trump defended it as a model facility, asserting that it was designed to contain “some of the most violent people on the planet.” However, many detainees held at Aligator Alcatraz did not have criminal backgrounds or pending legal processes. Reports during the hearings indicated that conditions within the center were subpar , with overcrowding, frequent power outages, insect infestations, and serious health issues concerning the sanitation facilities.
Judge Williams recalled that a proposal for a tourist airport in the same area was deemed unfeasible over 50 years ago due to environmental concerns. “What was not deemed appropriate then cannot be considered adequate for an installation of this type now,” Williams remarked.
Official reactions to the ruling have been limited. Neither the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) nor the Customs and Immigration Enforcement Agency (ICE) offered immediate comments. The Florida Emergency Management Department, responsible for managing the center on behalf of ICE, also maintained silence. It is anticipated that state lawyers will appeal any unfavorable ruling.
As previously reported by the Miami Herald, hundreds of migrants were transferred to other facilities in anticipation of a potential closure of Aligator Alcatraz. Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, a political ally of Trump, recently announced the establishment of a second immigration detention center in an old prison near Gainesville, aimed at accommodating more immigrants in the state.
(With information from AFP)