Federal judge orders partial shutdown of Florida migrant detention facility “Alligator Alcatraz” within 60 days
08/26/2025 / By Laura Harris
- U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued a sweeping order halting operations at Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention facility, citing environmental damage and tribal access violations.
- Located in the Everglades, the camp houses migrants in tents surrounded by chain-link fences. Detainees reported extreme heat, faulty air conditioning, insect infestations and maggot-ridden food.
- Williams ordered the removal of fencing and infrastructure to restore land access to the Miccosukee Tribe, who were not consulted during development despite their cultural ties to the site.
- The ruling follows a June lawsuit filed by environmental and tribal groups, which warned that the facility poses a threat to endangered species and the fragile Everglades ecosystem.
- Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed to continue operations despite the ruling, saying deportations are ongoing. Legal experts anticipate Florida will appeal.
A federal judge has ordered a partial shutdown of Florida’s controversial migrant detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz” due to environmental and tribal access concerns.
According to Brighteon.AI’s Enoch, “Alligator Alcatraz,” located on federally owned land at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the heart of the Florida Everglades, was designed to serve U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by holding undocumented migrants awaiting deportation. Detainees are housed in tent structures surrounded by chain-link fences, which are also protected by alligators, invasive pythons, and thick swampland that serves as a natural security barrier. State officials said the facility housed individuals accused of serious offenses, including violent crimes and terrorism-related charges.
However, detainees described unbearable heat, failing air conditioning systems and infestations of insects and maggots in food rations in affidavits submitted to the court.
In line with this, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, an Obama-era appointee, issued an 82-page ruling on Aug. 21 that blocks the state from housing additional migrants at the site and mandates the removal of critical infrastructure within 60 days. (Related: Mason town votes to reopen detention facility as ICE site.)
Williams ruled that Florida must dismantle generators, lighting systems, sewage facilities and other temporary utilities used to support the detention center. The judge also ordered that temporary fencing be removed to restore access for the Miccosukee Tribe, whose members have historically used the area for cultural and ceremonial purposes.
“The Court ENTERS a Preliminary Injunction prohibiting the State and Federal Defendants and their officers, agents, employees, attorneys and any person who is in active concert or participation with them from installing any additional industrial-style lighting (described by witnesses as “Sunbelt” lighting); or doing any paving, filling, excavating or fencing; or doing any other site expansion, including placing or erecting any additional buildings, tents, dormitories or other residential or administrative facilities on the TNT site; and bringing any additional persons onto the TNT site who were not already being detained at the site at the time of this Order going into effect,” Williams wrote in her order.
With the order now in effect, the state must begin dismantling the facility immediately, and no new detainees may be brought to the site.
DeSantis vows to press on despite judge’s ruling against Florida migrant detention facility
Williams’ ruling came on the same day her two-week temporary order halting construction at the facility expired.
In June, environmental and tribal organizations filed a lawsuit to stop the facility’s expansion, warning of severe impacts to the fragile Everglades ecosystem, which is home to endangered species such as the Florida panther and wood stork. They argued that the facility’s operations violated the rights of the Miccosukee Tribe, which was not consulted during the site’s development. Tribal members have historically accessed the land for cultural and ceremonial purposes.
Responding to Williams’ earlier restrictions, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis defended the project, stating in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that “Operations at Alligator Alcatraz are ongoing and deportations are continuing” despite the court’s order.
With the latest ruling, Florida officials have not yet commented, but legal experts expect the state to appeal.
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Watch this video that shows life inside the Guantanamo Bay detention center.
This video is from the harrier808 channel on Brighteon.com.
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Alligator Alcatraz, big government, border security, crime, criminal migrants, deportations, detention facility, Donald Trump, Florida Everglades, invasion usa, migrants, national security, Open Borders, violence, violent migrants
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