ORLANDO, Fla. — An immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, known as Alligator Alcatraz, will remain open following a ruling by an appeals court. The court upheld a previous decision that blocked a judge's order to halt operations due to non-compliance with federal environmental laws.
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the state-run facility, built and controlled by Florida, is not obligated to follow federal regulations on environmental review. The majority opinion highlighted that Florida officials constructed the detention center with state funds, without any federal reimbursement at the time of the injunction.
“This fight is far from over,” stated Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades. “Alligator Alcatraz was hastily erected in one of the most fragile ecosystems in the country without the most basic environmental review, at immense human and ecological cost.”
Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, organizations that filed the lawsuit leading to the injunction, remain committed to pursuing further legal actions. Judge Nancy Abudu dissented from the majority’s ruling, emphasizing that immigration falls under federal jurisdiction and that just constructing the facility does not absolve federal responsibility.
California Governor Ron DeSantis opened the center last year as part of a broader crackdown on immigration. Concerns have emerged regarding the treatment of detainees, following reports of abuse by guards.
