Why a judge ordered Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention centre to shut down

Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

A federal judge has ordered Florida to stop sending immigrant detainees to the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” detention centre in the Everglades and begin dismantling parts of the facility within 60 days. Judge Kathleen M. Williams ruled that both state and federal officials acted illegally by failing to conduct an environmental review before building the centre. The decision halts new construction and requires existing detainees to be relocated, dealing a blow to Governor Ron DeSantis’s aggressive immigration enforcement agenda, the New York Times reported.

Environmental laws at the core of the case

The ruling partly granted an injunction sought by environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, who argued that the detention centre threatened the fragile Everglades ecosystem and tribal lands. Judge Williams wrote that the project risked habitat loss, polluted wetlands, and increased dangers to endangered species such as the Florida panther. By ignoring the National Environmental Policy Act, she said, the state and federal governments sidestepped obligations to study alternatives and evaluate potential harms.

Federal responsibility despite state control

The Trump administration and Florida both argued that because the detention centre was state-run, federal environmental laws did not apply. Judge Williams rejected that reasoning, noting that federal immigration enforcement was the “key driver” behind the facility and that it operated with federal funding and oversight. In a pointed remark, she invoked the saying: “If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, then it’s a duck.” In other words, she concluded, the centre was effectively a federal project subject to federal rules.

Political backdrop: DeSantis vs. the courts

Governor DeSantis has positioned Florida as a leader in hardline immigration enforcement, pushing to expand state-run detention and deputize police to carry out federal responsibilities. He had already signalled he expected an unfavourable ruling, calling Judge Williams biased. His administration plans to open a second immigration facility in an old state prison near Jacksonville. The latest order, however, underscores the limits of state authority when environmental and tribal rights are at stake.

A history of Everglades protection

Judge Williams anchored her ruling in the long history of Everglades conservation. She cited President Harry Truman’s 1947 dedication of Everglades National Park and noted that both Republican and Democratic leaders have pledged to safeguard the region since then. Activists compared the ruling to a landmark victory decades ago, when conservationists blocked plans for a massive jetport on the same site. “This is a landmark victory for the Everglades,” said Eve Samples of Friends of the Everglades, one of the groups that sued.

Tensions with tribal communities

The Miccosukee Tribe, whose members live and hunt near the facility, argued that the government trampled their rights by failing to consult them. Tribal lawyers said the detention centre would pollute water supplies and disrupt traditional practices. Judge Williams agreed that federal and state officials offered “little to no evidence” that they had considered the tribe’s concerns or seriously explored alternative locations.

Conditions inside the centre

Even before the environmental ruling, “Alligator Alcatraz” had drawn criticism for poor conditions and legal challenges. Reports described inadequate medical care and safety concerns, adding pressure to close the facility. The ruling now accelerates those efforts by ordering dismantling of infrastructure such as fencing, lighting, and generators, though litigation is expected to continue as the state appeals.

Implications going forward

The decision may reverberate beyond Florida, testing how far states can go in building immigration infrastructure under Trump’s expanded enforcement policies. It also highlights the role of environmental law as a check on aggressive immigration measures. For now, detainees will need to be relocated, and the state must decide whether to comply with the ruling or press forward with appeals and new facilities elsewhere.

The shutdown order for “Alligator Alcatraz” represents a rare victory for environmentalists and tribal communities against the combined weight of state and federal immigration authorities. By tying immigration enforcement to environmental protection, the case underscores the interconnectedness of policy areas often treated separately. Whether temporary or permanent, the ruling demonstrates that even in an era of sweeping immigration crackdowns, the Everglades — long seen as untouchable wilderness — retains powerful legal and symbolic protection.