Federal Judge Blocks Expansion of Florida Immigration Detention Center

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday, preventing Florida from expanding the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center, which is located in the heart of the Everglades. This ruling from US District Judge Kathleen Williams formalizes a temporary halt that was put in place two weeks ago.

During a hearing that spanned several days, witnesses testified regarding whether construction of the facility should be paused until a related lawsuit is resolved.

Supporters of the injunction argue that expanding the facility goes against environmental regulations. Judge Williams anticipates that the number of detainees will be substantially reduced within the next 60 days, mainly through transfers to other facilities. After that, the fencing, lighting, and generators should be dismantled. She emphasized that no new detainees could be brought to the facility, only those currently held there.

This ruling, interestingly enough, does not stop maintenance or repairs on existing facilities, which the judge indicated was necessary “to increase safety and mitigate environmental or other risks.”

Preliminary injunctions also apply to “individuals actively working with the State of Florida or federal authorities,” according to the ruling.

Interestingly, state officials struggled to justify the location of this facility in such a sensitive ecological area. Judge Williams remarked that, in their rush to establish a detention center, the state seemed not to have considered alternative sites.

Florida officials voiced their discontent with the ruling on Thursday. A spokesperson for the state’s general attorney stated that a judge in the same district had previously declined to hear the case because the Southern District of Florida was an improper venue for issues regarding “Crocodile Alcatraz.” They accused Judge Williams of overstepping her boundaries and indicated plans to appeal the decision.