Federal Judge Halts Florida Alligator Alcatraz Construction Over Environmental Laws

A federal judge, Kathleen Williams, has temporarily halted construction at Florida's immigrant detention center known as 'Alligator Alcatraz,' a project championed by President Donald Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis. The two-week restraining order stops any new fill, pavement, or infrastructure additions while a lawsuit filed by environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, alleging violations of the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act, proceeds. These groups argue that the detention center threatens the Everglades ecosystem, including endangered species like the Florida Panther, and was built without proper environmental reviews. Despite the construction halt, the facility remains operational and continues to hold detainees, with deportation flights ongoing. Trump and his allies have praised the facility for its rapid construction and view it as a model for future detention centers, while critics highlight allegations of inhumane treatment and environmental harm. The legal battle illustrates the tension between immigration enforcement policies and environmental and indigenous rights concerns in Florida.