On Thursday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) announced that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a previous ruling regarding the Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention facility, allowing it to remain operational while legal matters continue.
DeSantis stated that at the Alcatraz detention facility in Crocodile, “The mission continues,” following a decision from a lower court that aimed to stop its operations.
He remarked, “The media claimed it wasn’t happening because there was some confusion around Alcatraz and its potential shutdown. We actually didn’t issue an environmental impact statement.”
He further emphasized, “Alligator Alcatraz is indeed open as we have maintained. Our mission is ongoing, and we will continue to take the lead in immigration enforcement.”
This ruling follows an interim injunction issued by US District Judge Kathleen Williams in August, which pointed to environmental concerns and prevented the facility from expanding. Environmental groups, along with the Mikkoski tribe, argued that the project endangered sensitive wetlands and sidestepped necessary federal environmental assessments. This injunction required the removal of certain infrastructure and limited the intake of new detainees while allowing for essential repairs.
Florida officials maintain that the property falls under state jurisdiction and isn’t bound by federal environmental regulations, given their responsibilities in managing the facility. Jeremy Redfern and DeSantis, the state’s attorney general spokespersons, expressed hopes for a favorable ruling.
Located on the Miami-Dade Collier Training Facility grounds, the site is utilized for detaining and deporting criminal immigrants. DeSantis noted that since its summer opening, over 600 detainees have been deported, leading to an uptick in natural departures.
Additionally, DeSantis mentioned plans for a second immigration detention facility in Camp Branding, North Florida, which will become operational once the Alligator Alcatraz facility reaches its capacity.
