Judge halts new construction at 'Alligator Alcatraz' migrant detention camp amid ecological concerns

A federal judge ordered the government Thursday to shut down any new construction at “Alligator Alcatraz,” Florida’s new migrant detention camp — but allowed it to keep current operations going.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, an Obama appointee to the court in southern Florida, issued her ruling during a hearing and promised a written opinion to follow, laying out her reasons.

Her order will last two weeks, giving her time to consider the broader issues, but it signals a skepticism of Florida’s actions in constructing the facility in the Everglades.

Florida pursued the project as a way of helping deliver more detention space to Homeland Security to hold illegal immigrants pending deportation. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis ushered President Trump around the facility ahead of its opening early last month.

It was constructed on the property of Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Everglades — a location that drew the lawsuit from environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, which said the state had to pave over sensitive areas and the constant lights required for safety are disrupting local wildlife.

The groups said an environmental study should have been performed before the federal government could start using the site.

Those groups hailed Thursday’s ruling.

“We’re pleased that the judge saw the urgent need to put a pause on additional construction, and we look forward to advancing our ultimate goal of protecting the unique and imperiled Everglades ecosystem from further damage caused by this mass detention facility,” said Eve Samples, executive director at Friends of the Everglades.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been sending migrants to the facility but maintains that it is run by Florida.

Florida had argued in court that it was not subject to the federal laws governing federal projects.

The facility, which has also been labeled “Gator Gitmo,” has become a focal point for Democrats’ anger at Mr. Trump’s immigration policies.

They complain that migrants detained at the site are isolated from lawyers, face plumbing problems and are otherwise subject to poor conditions.

The facility has tents covering a series of pens divided by chain-link fencing. Congressional Democrats who visited last month said they found it hot and mosquito-infested, and said the sanitation and food were both below standard.

Immigrant rights groups have labeled construction of the facility “racist.”