Randros 
In a significant blow to the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies, a federal judge in Miami has issued a preliminary injunction ordering the immediate halt to operations at the notorious “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center.
The facility, located at the remote Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Florida Everglades, must cease accepting new detainees and begin dismantling key infrastructure within 60 days.
This is according to the 82-page ruling by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams.
The decision, released late Thursday, builds on a temporary restraining order issued two weeks prior that paused further construction at the site.
Judge Williams found that the hastily built tented camp—erected in just eight days in late June—is causing “severe and irreparable damage” to the fragile Everglades ecosystem, a federally protected national preserve.
She emphasized that the site’s development violates long-standing environmental protections, noting that a similar plan for a massive tourist airport was rejected in the 1960s due to potential harm to the land and wildlife.
“Since that time, 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,” Williams wrote in her order.
“This order does nothing more than uphold the basic requirements of legislation designed to fulfill those promises.”
The ruling prohibits any further construction, including paving, fencing, or installation of utilities, and caps the detainee population at its current estimate of about 700 individuals.
All construction materials, generators, sewage systems, and other fixtures must be removed after the 60-day period, effectively winding down the facility’s use as a detention camp.
Hundreds of detainees have already been transferred to other facilities in anticipation of the decision, reducing the population from a peak of around 1,400.
Background on ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
The Dade-Collier site, originally envisioned as a commercial airport but abandoned due to environmental concerns, was repurposed by the Trump administration in partnership with Florida’s Department of Emergency Management and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
President Trump has repeatedly touted the camp as a secure holding area for “some of the most vicious people on the planet,” though many detainees have no criminal records and are awaiting deportation proceedings.
Critics, including human rights advocates, have decried the facility for its harsh conditions, reports of abuse, and lack of due process.
Detainees have been housed in RVs and tents in a remote, alligator-infested area, earning it the moniker “Alligator Alcatraz.”
The camp has drawn widespread condemnation since its opening, with protests highlighting both humanitarian and ecological issues.
The lawsuit leading to this ruling was filed by a coalition of environmental organizations, including Friends of the Everglades, and a Native American tribe, arguing that the construction imperiled federally protected species and damaged sensitive wetlands.
Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades, called the decision a “landmark victory for the Everglades and countless Americans who believe this imperiled wilderness should be protected, not exploited.”
The group plans a press conference to discuss the implications further.
Environmental Triumph vs. Immigration Setback
The ruling has sparked polarized responses across the political spectrum.
Environmental advocates and immigrant rights groups celebrated it as a win for conservation and justice.
On X, users like @margaretsiegien described it as “obliterating Trump’s vile ‘Alligator Alcatraz‘” and a “massive victory for human rights and environmental justice.”
Another post from @CtNinfo highlighted the judge’s emphasis on historical pledges to protect the Everglades, calling it a “historic win.”
Conversely, supporters of the Trump administration and Florida officials decried the order as judicial overreach.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has vowed to appeal the decision to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
State lawyers indicated during hearings that an appeal was imminent if the ruling went against them.
On X, conservative voices like @starteller18 labeled Judge Williams, an Obama appointee, a “federal judge-activist” and called the environmental rationale “ridiculous.”
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier noted that while the order pauses new construction, the facility remains operational for current detainees and deportations.
There has been no immediate official response from the Department of Homeland Security or ICE, but the Trump administration’s deportation agenda faces a setback.
DeSantis recently announced plans for a second immigration jail at a disused prison near Gainesville to bolster capacity.
Broader Implications
This case underscores the tension between federal immigration enforcement and environmental protections in sensitive areas like the Everglades, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
If upheld on appeal, the ruling could set a precedent for challenging similar facilities on ecological grounds.
It also highlights ongoing debates over judicial activism, with critics like X user @EricLDaugh calling it “MASSIVE overreach” and urging defiance.
As the 60-day clock ticks, attention turns to the appeals process and potential transfers of remaining detainees. Environmental groups remain vigilant, ensuring compliance with the order to restore the site.
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About The Author
Frank Nez 
Financial Desk Team 
Alexandria Reyes 
FrankNez Media 
News Desk 
