On the evening of August 21, 2025, a sweeping federal court order abruptly halted the expansion of Florida’s controversial immigration detention facility, known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” deep in the heart of the Everglades. The ruling, handed down by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, not only blocks new construction and the transfer of additional detainees to the site but also mandates the dismantling of key temporary infrastructure within 60 days—a move environmental advocates are hailing as a landmark victory for the region’s fragile ecosystem.
The 82-page decision, issued late Thursday, marks a significant setback for Florida’s Republican-led government and its efforts to support the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement agenda. According to Axios and The Hill, the order specifically prohibits any additional lighting, paving, filling, excavating, or other expansion at the facility. State and federal officials are also required to remove temporary fencing, lighting fixtures, generators, and waste disposal facilities—a process that could be extended if site safety demands it.
“Every Florida governor, every Florida senator, and countless local and national political figures, including presidents, have publicly pledged their unequivocal support for the restoration, conservation, and protection of the Everglades. This Order does nothing more than uphold the basic requirements of legislation designed to fulfill those promises,” Judge Williams wrote, according to NPR.
The ruling comes after months of heated debate and legal wrangling. The facility, which opened in July 2025 on a long-abandoned airstrip, was designed to house up to 5,000 migrants in tents surrounded by chain-link fences. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and President Trump both praised the center, touting its strategic location and purportedly minimal environmental impact. Florida’s attorney general, James Uthmeier, argued, “We don’t need to build a lot of brick and mortar. And thankfully, Mother Nature does a lot on the perimeter,” in an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson.
But environmental groups, joined by the Miccosukee Tribe, saw things differently. Their lawsuit, filed in June 2025, alleged that the state had failed to conduct the federally mandated environmental reviews required under the National Environmental Policy Act before converting the airstrip into a detention facility. The Everglades, they argued, is among the most delicate ecosystems in the United States—home to endangered species and a vital source of drinking water for millions.
Expert testimony cited in the court’s decision painted a dire picture. The new lighting alone, Williams noted, had reduced the habitat available to the endangered Florida panther by 2,000 acres. Runoff and wastewater discharge from the site posed a direct threat to the Everglades’ unique hydrology and its wildlife. Members of the Miccosukee Tribe testified that the facility’s construction had cut off their access to traditional trails used for hunting and gathering ceremonial and medicinal plants.
Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades, one of the plaintiffs in the case, celebrated the ruling. “This is a landmark victory for the Everglades and countless Americans who believe this imperiled wilderness should be protected, not exploited. It sends a clear message that environmental laws must be respected by leaders at the highest levels of our government—and there are consequences for ignoring them.”
For now, the order does not require a complete shutdown of Alligator Alcatraz. Existing structures can continue to be used to detain immigrants, but the state is barred from adding new tents or expanding operations in any way. The judge’s order does allow for repairs to existing facilities if necessary for safety. Additionally, the ruling restores access to the site for members of the Miccosukee Tribe, consistent with the rights they enjoyed before the facility was built.
Governor DeSantis, undeterred, vowed to appeal. Speaking to Fox News shortly after the ruling, he said, “We will ultimately be successful in this. It’s not going to stop our resolve. So we anticipated this, but I don’t think it’s going to be insurmountable in the end.” DeSantis reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the Trump administration’s efforts to remove undocumented immigrants, stating he would do all he could to assist federal authorities.
Florida officials have argued that because the facility is state-run, it is not subject to the federal environmental requirements cited by plaintiffs. The Trump administration, for its part, has pledged to reimburse the state for the costs of the facility with federal funds. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem previously described Alligator Alcatraz as a model for state-run immigrant detention centers nationwide, though DHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the judge’s decision.
Inside the facility, conditions have drawn criticism from detainees and advocates alike. According to The Hill, migrants have reported poorly functioning air conditioning and meals infested with insects and maggots. Earlier this month, a separate lawsuit challenging detainees’ access to legal counsel was partially dismissed by another federal judge, though claims related to confidential and in-person legal consultations are still being litigated.
Environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe have long maintained that the state’s rush to establish the detention center bypassed necessary consultations and environmental evaluations. Judge Williams agreed, writing in her decision, “Here, there weren’t ‘deficiencies’ in the agency’s process. There was no process.”
The ruling’s implications extend beyond Alligator Alcatraz. Florida is not alone in offering state-run facilities to support the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown; similar arrangements have been made in other Republican-led states. Yet, as this case demonstrates, the push to expand immigration detention faces formidable legal hurdles when it collides with environmental protections and tribal rights.
As the state gears up for an appeal, environmental advocates remain vigilant. Friends of the Everglades and other organizations have called on federal and state leaders to respect the court’s decision and prioritize the long-term health of the Everglades over short-term political gains. “Let’s not repeat the mistakes of the past. This land deserves lasting protection,” the advocacy group stated.
For now, the Everglades—and the people and wildlife who depend on it—have won a reprieve. Whether that reprieve becomes permanent will depend on the outcome of the appeals process and the willingness of leaders to heed the court’s call for genuine environmental stewardship.
