Federal Judge Issues Temporary Construction Halt at Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detention Center Amid Environmental Concerns
A U.S. District Judge has ordered a temporary stop to further construction work on the controversial immigrant detention center in Florida, nicknamed ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ citing potential environmental harm to the Everglades ecosystem.
On Thursday, August 7, 2025, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Mary Williams granted a 14-day temporary restraining order to block any continuation of building activities at the facility. This ruling follows two days of hearings that extensively reviewed the environmental impact that the detention center’s expansion could have on the surrounding sensitive wetlands.
The detention center, located near the Florida Everglades, has been under scrutiny for its potentially damaging environmental footprint. While the order prevents further physical expansion, it does not affect the current operation of the center. Florida authorities and the federal government are still permitted to use the facility and keep detainees housed there during this period.
Judge Williams emphasized the urgency of halting construction as a precaution to safeguard the delicate Everglades ecosystem, home to numerous threatened species and vital natural habitats. The court scheduled a follow-up hearing to resume on the coming Tuesday to further deliberate on the matter and determine subsequent steps.
The facility, colloquially known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ has attracted criticism from environmentalists and immigration advocates alike, citing the combination of ecological risk and the contentious nature of detaining migrants there. The temporary block reflects increasing judicial willingness to weigh environmental concerns in matters tied to immigration enforcement.
Florida’s government had previously championed the facility as necessary for managing immigration challenges but faced backlash from both environmental groups and local communities worried about irreversible damage to the Everglades ecosystem.
This legal intervention highlights the complex intersection of immigration policy, environmental conservation, and government infrastructure projects within ecologically sensitive areas.