ICE Operations to Continue Despite Florida Ruling
Tom Homan, President Trump’s border chief, stated on Saturday that the recent order to temporarily close sections of Crocodile Alcatraz in Florida won’t hinder immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) operations. He suggested that immigrants detained by federal agents might be relocated to other facilities.
In an interview with News Nation, a sister network to The Hill, Homan said, “They’re not going to stop what we’re doing. They will file a lawsuit based on the judge’s ruling. Ultimately, we will continue to arrest individuals posing a threat to public safety and national security every single day across the country.”
He further emphasized the need for more facilities, mentioning that the president requested 100,000 beds. “For every illegal immigrant we take into custody, we need beds. That’s why this request is so essential. These activist judges might slow us down a bit, but they won’t completely stop us,” Homan added.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, appointed by former President Obama, ruled that Florida must cease bringing more immigrants to Crocodile Alcatraz and mandated a temporary closure of parts of the facility.
Judge Williams directed that Florida should halt any expansion of its facilities, stop installing additional lighting, and remove all generators and waste containers related to the project within two months.
In response, Florida appealed the decision on Friday morning.
Governor Ron DeSantis (R) rejected Williams’ ruling, insisting that the judge’s actions were intended to unjustly impede their efforts. He described her as an “activist judge” during a Friday event in Panama City, stating, “This isn’t going to stop us.”
Homan indicated that the administration plans to comply with judicial orders while they pursue appeals and file lawsuits. When asked if the facility would indeed shut down temporarily, he responded, “I’m not sure that decision has been reached yet. We’re reviewing everything. It’s really a question for the DOJ. We’re examining our options, but let’s see how it evolves.” Homan stated, “We aren’t going to disregard the courts; we’ll elevate the issue and challenge it legally.”
