A federal judge in Florida ordered Thursday that parts of the “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention center be dismantled, halting its expansion and barring new detainees.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, an Obama appointee, ruled the facility harms the Everglades ecosystem and blocks access for members of the Miccosukee Tribe. She ordered Florida to remove fencing, generators, waste equipment, and other temporary infrastructure within 60 days. Williams wrote that the project caused “irreparable harm in the form of habitat loss and increased mortality to endangered species.”
The ruling came after environmental groups sued, arguing the site violates federal protections. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem previously called the facility a “model” for state-run detention centers. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who said the camp could hold 5,000 migrants, claimed it would have “zero environmental impacts.”
Migrants have reported maggot-filled food, poor air conditioning, and insect infestations inside the tents. Williams’ order follows complaints from detainees and a separate suit alleging restricted access to lawyers.
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