Federal judge halts construction at Alligator Alcatraz for two weeks

Siena Duncan, Miami Herald on Aug 7, 2025

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MIAMI — In a victory for critics of the potential environmental impacts of Florida’s immigration detention center in the Everglades, a federal judge in Miami has ordered construction halted at the site for two weeks.

District Judge Kathleen Williams on Thursday issued a temporary restraining order blocking any construction installing additional paving, tall lighting, filling, excavating or fencing at the detention camp known as Alligator Alcatraz.

The restraining order was sought by the Miccosukee Tribe and environmental advocacy groups Friends of the Everglades, the Center for Biological Diversity and Earthjustice. It targets the immigration detention center, built hastily at an airstrip within the Big Cypress National Preserve, through a federal statute that requires environmental review for any “major” federal action. The groups are asking for operations to be halted at the site until that environmental review is conducted.

Experts on the Florida panther and water in the wetlands explained over two days that the construction of the detention center, including new pavement and lighting, could be detrimental to the area around Alligator Alcatraz, possibly driving away wildlife and adding more runoff to the ecosystem with possible carcinogens.

The DeSantis administration has repeatedly said that they are attempting to expand the facility to be able to hold 3,000 detainees. Witnesses at the hearing said they have observed trucks with fill and other construction materials going in and out of the site, describing it as an active construction site.