Federal Judge orders shutdown of Alligator Alcatraz, citing ‘irreparable environmental harm’
(August 23, 2025) On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ordered the shutdown of the controversial immigration detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz, located in the Big Cypress National Preserve near Ochopee in the Florida Everglades. The federal judge cited irreparable environmental harm, including habitat destruction and threats to endangered species, as key reasons for the closure.
She also criticized the lack of environmental review and public input, stating that the facility was built hastily without considering alternative locations.
The ruling mandates that no new detainees be brought in and that within 60 days, the state must remove fencing, lighting, generators, and other infrastructure. However, the facility may remain operational temporarily under strict conditions, pending further legal proceedings.
Alligator Alcatraz was constructed in just eight days on a 39-acre site at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, a remote airfield in the Everglades. It consists of FEMA-style tents with chain-link enclosures and is designed to hold up to 5,000 detainees. The facility was promoted by Florida officials as a cost-effective solution due to its natural isolation, but critics labeled it a “political stunt” with severe environmental and human rights implications.
The closure was driven by lawsuits from Friends of the Everglades, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, who argued the site was built on sacred land and endangered the ecosystem.
Operating costs for Alligator Alcatraz are estimated at $450 million annually, with a daily cost of $245 per detainee, making it the most expensive detention facility in the U.S.
Since it opened in early July, touted by Trump as a base for the “the most vicious people on the planet” awaiting deportation, “Alligator Alcatraz” has built a reputation for brutality. Detainees have reported “inhumane” conditions including extreme heat, insects, and a lack of food and functioning toilet facilities. ~ The Guardian
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis dismissed the ruling as politically motivated, calling Judge Williams an “activist judge” and vowed to appeal. He stated the decision would not deter Florida’s immigration enforcement efforts and announced plans for a second facility dubbed the “Deportation Depot.”
Yesterday, the state of Florida appealed the federal judge’s order that the harsh immigration jail that some refer to as a concentration camp in the Everglades must close within the next two months, a ruling that pumps the brakes on Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation agenda.
For more on the story, see the video accompanying this article.
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(Sources: USA Today; USA Today Graphics; WLRN; The Pricer; MSN News; The Guardian;)
(Cover photo: Donald Trump, Kristi Noem, Ron DeSantis tour Alligator Alcatraz. Image credit: X)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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