A federal judge in Miami issued a temporary restraining order Thursday to halt construction of Florida’s controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention center — a facility designed to hold up to 1,000 detainees in repurposed shipping containers.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, an Obama appointee, sided with environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, claiming the project could violate environmental laws by threatening wetlands and protected wildlife.
The order lasts 14 days and blocks further lighting, paving, excavation, and fencing work — but does not stop the facility from housing migrants already inside.
Florida Refused to Halt Without an Order
Judge Williams asked Florida’s legal team if the state would voluntarily stop work to avoid the restraining order. They refused.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and immigration hawks have defended the facility as essential for holding dangerous illegal immigrants who commit crimes after entering the U.S.
Allegations of Harsh Conditions
Critics — including former employees — allege the facility keeps detainees in substandard, overcrowded conditions, with reports of:
One ex-staffer called it “an oversized dog kennel.”
Civil rights groups have also filed suit, claiming detainees are being denied access to attorneys and held without charges.
Part of a Broader Legal War on Trump’s Immigration Agenda
“Alligator Alcatraz” is just one of many Trump-era immigration enforcement measures now under attack in court. Judges across the country have issued injunctions against detention expansions, deportation fast-tracks, and border security policies.
Still, supporters argue that with record illegal crossings, facilities like Alligator Alcatraz are vital to national security — and that environmental lawsuits are just the latest tactic to block enforcement.
