A federal judge has ordered an immediate 14-day halt to new construction at the controversial Everglades immigration detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” following mounting legal challenges from environmental and tribal groups.
The order, issued Friday by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, bars the facility from moving forward with any additional filling, paving, or infrastructure work while the court considers a broader request for a preliminary injunction under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The detention center, located in the heart of sensitive Everglades habitat, has faced fierce criticism since its inception. Opponents argue that the project bypassed federally required environmental impact studies, posing threats to endangered species such as the Florida panther, Everglades snail kite, and wood stork. Tribal leaders have also raised alarms about impacts to culturally significant lands.
