A federal judge has ordered that parts of a controversial new migrant detention facility in Florida — known as “Alligator Alcatraz” — be shut down, stopping the state from expanding the site or bringing in more detainees. The ruling, handed down Thursday evening, marks a major development in a growing legal battle over the future of the site and Florida’s immigration crackdown.
The facility, located at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Everglades, has been the center of attention since it opened last month. Governor Ron DeSantis had promoted it as a model for state-run detention, designed to house up to 5,000 migrants in tents surrounded by chain-link fences. But complaints from environmental groups, tribal members, and detainees themselves have quickly turned the project into a national flashpoint.
Judge Kathleen Williams, who President Obama appointed, issued an 82-page ruling late Thursday. She ordered the state of Florida to remove several parts of the site, including temporary fencing, generators, and waste systems. She also stopped any expansion of the facility, such as adding more lighting or new structures.
Perhaps most notably, Williams banned Florida from detaining any more migrants at the site. The facility is now limited to holding only those already there as of the time the order went into effect.
In her ruling, Williams said the detention site was creating “irreparable harm” to the Everglades and putting endangered species at risk. She noted the area’s protected habitat and said the state failed to provide enough evidence that the project would not cause long-term environmental damage.
Meet Judge Kathleen Williams, an Obama appointee.
She just stopped future construction of Alligator Alcatraz, citing the environment.
She is a political hack with a robe… Ignore her. pic.twitter.com/7U8P7WvAcQ
— Gunther Eagleman
(@GuntherEagleman) August 7, 2025
(@GuntherEagleman) The court also sided with the Miccosukee Tribe, which had raised concerns that the detention center blocked access to land they traditionally used. Williams ordered that the temporary fencing be removed to restore access for tribal members.
The case began in June when a group of environmental organizations sued the state, arguing that the facility had not been properly reviewed for its environmental impact. That lawsuit led to a two-week temporary construction freeze — which expired Thursday — and now, a more permanent decision to scale back the site.
The facility has also faced backlash from detainees, who described harsh conditions inside. Reports have included complaints of non-working air conditioning, insect infestations, and even maggot-filled meals.
BREAKING: Kathleen Williams, an Obama-appointed US District Judge, issued an order to HALT any further expansion at Alligator Alcatraz detention facility in Florida. pic.twitter.com/3kHIxIq5wY
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 7, 2025
Earlier this week, another federal judge — Rodolfo Ruiz, appointed by President Trump — dismissed parts of a separate lawsuit filed by detainees. That lawsuit claimed the state wasn’t giving them proper access to legal counsel. Ruiz rejected parts of the case, but other portions are still moving forward in court.
Thursday’s ruling represents a setback for the DeSantis administration, which has pushed for strong state-level enforcement on immigration. Just this month, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised Alligator Alcatraz as a “model facility” that could inspire similar efforts in other states.
But now, with construction frozen and expansion blocked, the future of the project is uncertain.
The state has not yet announced whether it will appeal the judge’s order. Environmental groups and tribal leaders have called the ruling a victory, but some questions still remain — including what will happen to the migrants currently housed at the site and whether new facilities will be proposed elsewhere.
For now, Florida’s biggest immigration facility is in limbo.
