Judge orders Florida to dismantle Alligator Alcatraz detention site over Everglades damage

🕒 Last updated on August 22, 2025

A federal judge in Miami has ordered Florida to shut down and dismantle its controversial immigrant detention site known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” The ruling gives the state 60 days to remove all facilities and restore the area. This decision marks a significant win for environmental groups and for the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, who argued the site was harming the Everglades.

The detention camp was set up deep in Big Cypress National Preserve earlier this summer. It was made up of tents, trailers, and fenced cages, built on top of an abandoned airstrip. Supporters of the project called it a tough solution for detaining immigrants awaiting deportation. Critics, however, described it as both unsafe and damaging to one of America’s most sensitive ecosystems.

The Court’s Decision

The judge ruled that the state had failed to conduct the required environmental review before building the site. Federal law demands that any major project in protected lands must assess environmental impact, but that process never happened in this case.

The order bans state officials from moving any more detainees to the site. It also directs crews to take down fences, generators, floodlights, and waste stations that were hurriedly installed. In her ruling, the judge pointed out that experts testified about “considerable environmental impacts” the camp had already caused.

The site, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” by critics, was designed to hold thousands of detainees. At one point, officials said it could hold up to 5,000 men and women. In practice, fewer than 1,000 were held there at its peak, with fewer than 400 present in recent weeks.

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Environmental Concerns in the Everglades

What bothered conservationists most was the location. The makeshift prison stood in the middle of Big Cypress National Preserve, next to Everglades National Park. This is an area famous for its rare wildlife. It is home to endangered species like the Florida panther, the Everglades snail kite, wood storks, and the bonneted bat.

The camp was built in just eight days using an emergency order. Construction teams paved over at least 20 acres of wetlands, according to photos shown in court. Bright security lights, visible from as far as 15 miles away, disturbed one of the few officially recognized “dark sky” areas in the Southeast. Environmental groups argued that the lights, noise, and human activity put stress on animals that rely on the quiet, dark habitat.

Unlike a normal detention facility, the site operated without permanent infrastructure. Everything needed power from noisy generators. Drinking water had to be trucked in, while sewage, trash, and wastewater were carted out. To environmentalists, this was proof that the location was poorly chosen and unsustainable.

The Miccosukee Tribe joined the lawsuit, stressing the cultural and ecological importance of the Everglades. The tribe, whose home and traditions are tied to the wetlands, has long fought to protect the area from development. Their participation in the case highlighted how decisions made in city offices could deeply impact communities that live closest to the land.

Political Clash and Next Steps

The detention camp had become politically symbolic. It was showcased as part of a broader plan to expand tough immigration control measures. State leaders defended Alligator Alcatraz, even calling it a “force multiplier” for federal immigration crackdowns. They maintained that the project would have “zero” impact on the environment and that the Everglades would naturally reclaim the land after use.

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In court, state lawyers argued that protective steps had been taken. They said builders installed silt fences and speed bumps to slow traffic and even began digging a drainage basin to limit pollution. A state contractor’s assessment claimed the impacts on wildlife would not be significant. But photographs and testimony submitted by environmentalists proved otherwise.

The fight also reached Capitol Hill, where dozens of lawmakers asked federal officials to explain how the camp was being financed and managed. Critics accused the government of keeping operations in the dark, while families of detainees struggled to gain access to relatives housed at the facility.

Meanwhile, as court battles intensified, the state began planning an alternative. A shuttered prison in North Florida was chosen to be converted into another detention site, called “Deportation Depot.” The timing of this move raised questions, as it came shortly before the judge’s order to dismantle Alligator Alcatraz.

For now, the focus rests on clearing the airstrip within the 60-day deadline. Contractors have been instructed to pull out fences, tear down tents, switch off the floodlights, and remove generators and waste bins. Once removed, the site will return to the custody of federal land managers who will oversee the recovery of the wetlands.