📍 Everglades, Florida — In a dramatic legal reversal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit has blocked a lower court’s order to shut down Florida’s controversial immigration detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” allowing the facility to remain operational during ongoing litigation.
The 2–1 decision came Thursday, with Judges Barbara Lagoa and Elizabeth Branch—both appointed during President Trump’s tenure—issuing the majority opinion. They concluded that the federal government and the state of Florida are likely to succeed in proving the site is not subject to the National Environmental Policy Act, since it is state-operated and has not received federal reimbursement. Judge Adalberto Jordan, an Obama appointee, dissented.
The ruling effectively pauses U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams’ earlier injunction, which demanded the dismantling of the facility within 60 days due to environmental concerns raised by advocacy groups and the Miccosukee Tribe. Williams had argued that the site—built on a former airstrip in the sensitive Everglades ecosystem—should have undergone federal environmental review before opening.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis celebrated the decision, declaring on social media that “Alligator Alcatraz is open for business” and reaffirming the state’s commitment to immigration enforcement. Attorney General James Uthmeier echoed the sentiment, calling the ruling a “victory against activist judges” and a win for Florida’s partnership with federal immigration authorities.
The Department of Homeland Security also praised the outcome, stating that the lawsuit was “never about environmental impacts” but rather an attempt by “open-borders activists and judges” to obstruct law enforcement.
Environmental groups expressed disappointment but vowed to continue the legal battle. “This is a heartbreaking blow to America’s Everglades,” said Elise Bennett of the Center for Biological Diversity, “but the fight isn’t even close to over”.
The facility, which opened in July after just eight days of construction, was designed to house up to 3,000 detainees and has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over immigration enforcement and environmental stewardship.
As the case heads toward a full appeal, both sides are bracing for a prolonged legal showdown—one that could shape the future of immigration detention policy and environmental oversight in the United States.
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