Federal Appeals Court Blocks Shutdown of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

The controversial immigration detention center in Florida’s Everglades — nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” — will remain open for now, following a major ruling by a federal appeals court that blocked a judge’s order to…

Andrew PowellSep 4, 20253 min read

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The legal battle stems from a lawsuit brought by environmental groups, including Friends of the Everglades, who argue the facility is a danger to both people and the fragile ecosystem of the Everglades. CNN reported the group is reviewing the order, and has yet to issue a full statement.

Built in a matter of days in July, the facility was converted from the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport — an isolated, decommissioned runway — into a tent city Detention Center for migrants. Since opening, it has come under intense fire for alleged inhumane conditions, including extreme heat, bug infestations, and inadequate food.

Even members of Congress and state lawmakers who visited the facility described it as unfit for habitation and called for its immediate closure.

The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, whose reservation is located nearby, also raised alarms about the environmental toll, particularly to endangered wildlife in the surrounding wetlands.

“The project creates irreparable harm in the form of habitat loss and increased mortality to endangered species in the area,” U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams wrote in her late August order.

Despite the backlash, Florida Governor Ron Desantis is pressing forward. The governor has already announced the opening of another facility, boldly named the “Deportation Depot,” capable of detaining up to 2,000 individuals.

With the appeals court decision now on the books, the future of Alligator Alcatraz — and DeSantis’ broader immigration crackdown — is taking shape as a central legal and political battleground, pitting environmental and human rights groups against a growing state-federal partnership on border enforcement.