Judge Orders “Alligator Alcatraz” Shut Down in 60 Days
Federal ruling halts expansion and requires dismantling of controversial migrant detention center in the Florida Everglades
The ruling prohibits any further construction at the site — including tents, dormitories, or industrial lighting — and stops all plans for expansion. While repairs may continue for safety reasons, Williams’ injunction compels state officials to remove generators, sewage systems, gas infrastructure, and other installations that had transformed the rural airstrip into a sprawling detention hub. Once cleared, the site will no longer be habitable for detainees.
The decision comes in response to a lawsuit filed by environmental advocates and the Miccosukee Tribe, who argued the state and federal governments circumvented critical permitting processes when the facility was erected in a matter of days. Protesters and activists have consistently rallied outside the site since its July 4, 2025 opening, calling for its closure and decrying its environmental and humanitarian impact.
Williams’ order serves as a temporary injunction while litigation continues, but it marks the strongest rebuke yet against the controversial project. By requiring a full dismantling, the court effectively sets in motion the process of undoing what critics have labeled a rushed and reckless expansion of U.S. immigration detention in the Everglades.
The case now heads into further hearings that could determine the long-term fate of the facility, as well as the broader legal battles over how far state and federal officials can go in rapidly erecting detention centers without thorough review.
