In a dramatic turn for both environmentalists and immigrant rights advocates, a federal judge has ordered a two-week halt to construction at the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention center, situated deep in Florida’s famed Everglades. The decision, handed down Thursday, August 7, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, follows mounting legal challenges and public outcry over the facility’s environmental impact and alleged mistreatment of detainees.
The facility, which sprang up just two months ago on a quiet, single-runway training airport in Ochopee’s Big Cypress National Preserve, has been at the center of a storm since its inception. Capable of holding up to 3,000 detainees in sprawling temporary tent structures, the site remains operational, currently housing hundreds, even as its future hangs in the balance.
Judge Williams’ temporary restraining order is precise: for the next two weeks, no new industrial-style lighting, paving, filling, excavating, or fencing may be installed. The order also blocks any further expansion—no additional buildings, tents, dormitories, or administrative facilities can be erected during this period. Notably, the order doesn’t restrict law enforcement or immigration activity at the center, which continues to function as a holding facility.
The legal battle was set in motion by environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, who argue that the construction violates the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and threatens the delicate ecosystem of the Everglades—a region home to countless protected species. According to NBC News, the plaintiffs claim the project was rushed through without the mandatory ecological reviews, public notice, or comment, and that it also skirted other laws like the Endangered Species Act.
Christopher McVoy, an Everglades expert and board member of Friends of the Everglades, testified that during his June 28 site visit, “You’re looking at 11 acres of new pavement,” and described a noticeable uptick in traffic. Later expert testimony suggested the actual figure might be closer to 20 acres, as reported by CNN, underscoring the scale of the transformation. Dillon Reio, a professional geologist, warned that the facility lacks “a cohesive storm water plan for the site,” raising alarms about runoff that could contaminate the surrounding wetlands. “There could be offsite impacts,” he cautioned.
The visible changes to the area have not gone unnoticed by the local community, either. Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades, told the court that more than 40,000 people had submitted comments opposing the center. She highlighted concerns about runoff, the glare from industrial lighting visible from as far as 15 miles away, and the spike in traffic. “Driving out there myself many times, the increased traffic is visible. I saw two dead gators last time I visited, so definitely a difference in the area,” she said, according to NBC News.
Jessica Namath, daughter of NFL legend Joe Namath and a member of Friends of the Everglades, testified that the detention center’s presence has led to significant light pollution and that the area now looks “heartbreakingly different.” The Everglades, renowned for its dark skies and unique biodiversity, is a place where even seemingly minor changes can have outsized effects.
The facility’s rapid construction—without what plaintiffs say are proper environmental assessments—has become a flashpoint for the broader debate about state versus federal control. The state of Florida, led by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, has maintained that the construction and operation of the center fall squarely within state jurisdiction, and thus NEPA reviews do not apply. Yet, the plaintiffs counter that the facility exists solely to serve federal immigration enforcement, making it a joint federal-state project and subject to federal law.
During the hearing, Judge Williams noted that the detention center was “at a minimum, a joint partnership between the state and federal government,” reflecting the complex web of authority at play. State attorney Jesse Panuccio declined to guarantee a halt to construction, prompting Williams to issue the restraining order to maintain the status quo while she considers a longer-term injunction.
But environmental concerns are only part of the story. The “Alligator Alcatraz” facility has also come under fire for its treatment of detainees. Civil rights groups have filed a separate lawsuit alleging constitutional violations, including detainees being barred from meeting attorneys, being held without formal charges, and having bond hearings canceled. Legal advocates and family members have described conditions inside as “horrific,” citing cage-like units, mosquito infestations, unsanitary environments, limited access to showers, spoiled food, and extreme heat. NBC Miami reported on these allegations, painting a grim picture of life inside the tents.
The state of Florida, for its part, has pushed back. In court filings, officials say that since July 15, every request for a detainee to meet with an attorney has been granted and that “more meetings are taking place every day and there have been no complaints.” Still, the controversy persists, with a hearing on the civil rights case scheduled for August 18.
The legal wrangling has also raised thorny questions about jurisdiction. Attorneys for both state and federal agencies have argued that the lawsuit challenging the facility’s construction was filed in the wrong federal district, since the property straddles county lines. Judge Williams has yet to rule on this procedural issue, leaving the door open for further legal twists.
Meanwhile, the state appears to be doubling down on its detention strategy. According to CNN, Governor DeSantis’ administration is preparing to build a second immigration detention center at a Florida National Guard training site in the northern part of the state, dubbed the “North Detention Facility.” At least one contract has already been awarded for the project, signaling that the state’s approach to immigration enforcement is unlikely to change course soon, regardless of the outcome in the Everglades.
Governor DeSantis’ office has decried Judge Williams’ ruling but insists that “Alligator Alcatraz will remain operational, continuing to serve as a force multiplier to enhance deportation efforts.” The temporary restraining order, his spokesperson said, “will have no impact on immigration enforcement in Florida.”
For now, the fate of “Alligator Alcatraz” hangs in the balance as Judge Williams considers whether to issue a more permanent injunction. The coming weeks will be pivotal—not just for the hundreds held inside the facility, but for the Everglades’ fragile ecosystem and the ongoing debate over how the U.S. balances immigration enforcement with environmental stewardship and civil rights.