Appeals Court, in 2-1 Ruling, Allows 'Alligator Alcatraz' Immigration Center to Continue Operations

A federal appeals court has overturned a lower court's injunction, allowing the controversial "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades to continue its operations. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals delivered a 2-1 decision, staying an order that had mandated the facility's closure due to environmental concerns. This ruling marks a significant victory for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Trump administration, who have championed the facility.

The detention center, officially located at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee, Florida, was established rapidly in July to house immigrants. Environmental groups, including Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, alongside the Miccosukee Tribe, had successfully argued in a lower court that the facility violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by not undergoing a federal environmental review. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams had ordered a halt to its expansion and a 60-day dismantling process.

However, the appellate court concluded that state and federal officials would likely succeed in demonstrating the facility was not subject to NEPA because it had not yet received federal funding. Judges Elizabeth Branch and Barbara Lagoa, both Trump appointees, formed the majority opinion, while an Obama-appointed judge dissented. The court also cited the public interest in combating illegal immigration as a factor in its decision.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis welcomed the ruling, stating on social media, "Alligator Alcatraz is in fact, like we've always said, open for business." The Department of Homeland Security echoed this sentiment, calling the decision "a win for the American people, the rule of law and common sense." They asserted that the lawsuit was "never about the environmental impacts... It has and will always be about open-borders activists and judges trying to keep law enforcement from removing dangerous criminal aliens."

Despite the appeals court's decision, plaintiffs in the environmental lawsuit have vowed to continue their legal challenge. "This is a heartbreaking blow to America's Everglades and every living creature there, but the case isn't even close to over," said Elise Bennett, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. The facility, which cost approximately $250 million to build and covers 18 acres, has been described by former President Trump as a model for future detention sites nationwide.