Judge Halts Florida Migrant Facility Construction Again

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams has issued a 14-day temporary restraining order stopping new construction at the 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention center, which is located on a former airport in the Florida Everglades and can house up to 3,000 detainees. The order follows lawsuits by environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, who allege that required federal environmental impact studies were bypassed, endangering wetlands, the Florida panther, and tribal lands. While the facility may continue current operations, all additional infrastructure work is paused. The state argues that the project falls solely under Florida jurisdiction and does not need federal review, setting up a legal conflict over state versus federal authority. The judge’s ruling came after testimony about ongoing ecological harm. Further hearings will determine the facility’s compliance with environmental regulations and its long-term future.