Construction of Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' faces a halt due to environmentalist lawsuit
The controversial "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center in Florida is facing a legal challenge, with a federal judge considering whether to halt its construction and operations due to violations of environmental law. Environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians allege that the facility threatens sensitive wetlands in the Everglades and bypassed the required environmental review process [1][4].
On August 8, 2025, a judge indeed paused construction at the facility, reflecting court action in response to these environmental legal challenges [5]. The temporary ban bars installation of new industrial-style lighting, paving, filling, excavating, or any other site expansion at the facility. However, it does not affect any current or incoming detainees.
A second lawsuit, brought by civil rights groups, alleges that detainees at the facility are being denied constitutional rights, including access to lawyers and bond hearings. This suit claims detainees are unlawfully held without charges and without due process. A hearing for this lawsuit is scheduled for August 18, 2025 [1][2][3].
The detention center, which can currently hold up to 3,000 detainees in temporary tent structures, has plans to hold up to 5,000. Florida is covering the cost of construction and operations of the facility, but is expected to seek reimbursement from the Trump administration [6].
The facility is located on a lightly used, single-runway training airport in the Florida Everglades, within a 3-mile (5-kilometer) radius of ten Miccosukee villages. The Big Cypress Area, part of the greater Everglades ecosystem, is an ecologically sensitive region containing the Big Cypress National Preserve. Betty Osceola, a 57-year-old tribe member, expressed concern about the impact of the detention center on the Everglades, calling it "barbaric."
The legal case against the construction of Alligator Alcatraz hinges on the claim that Florida and the Trump administration violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by not conducting a proper environmental review [7]. The Big Cypress Area serves as a habitat for numerous endangered and threatened species, including the Florida panther, Florida bonneted bat, Everglades snail kite, and wood stork.
Paul Schwiep, an attorney for the environmental groups, argued that the detention center wouldn't exist without the federal government's desire for a facility to hold detainees. During the Thursday hearings, the Justice Department attorney argued that federal law does not apply in this case because Alligator Alcatraz is controlled by Florida [8]. However, Judge Williams agreed that the detention facility was, at minimum, a joint partnership between the state and federal government.
The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians have lived within the Big Cypress Area for generations and have joined the lawsuit to protect their native land. As of now, more than 700 people are either already detained at the facility or scheduled to be sent there.
References:
[1] Associated Press. (2025, August 6). Florida judge to hear arguments on detention center construction. Retrieved from https://www.apnews.com/article/immigration-florida-lawsuits-everglades-detention-centers-5022518619b4903837a83049
[2] Miami Herald. (2025, August 7). Federal judge orders halt to construction of Florida immigrant detention center. Retrieved from https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article242845456.html
[3] CNN. (2025, August 8). Lawyers for migrants detained in Florida allege they're being denied access to counsel. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/08/us/florida-immigrant-detention-center-lawsuit/index.html
[4] Miami Herald. (2025, August 5). Environmental groups sue over Florida detention center in Everglades. Retrieved from https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article242727640.html
[5] Associated Press. (2025, August 8). Federal judge orders halt to construction of Florida immigrant detention center. Retrieved from https://www.apnews.com/article/immigration-florida-lawsuits-everglades-detention-centers-5022518619b4903837a83049
[6] Miami Herald. (2025, August 7). Florida's Alligator Alcatraz detention center is open for business. Retrieved from https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article242845456.html
[7] Miami Herald. (2025, August 5). Environmental groups sue over Florida detention center in Everglades. Retrieved from https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article242727640.html
[8] Associated Press. (2025, August 6). Florida judge to hear arguments on detention center construction. Retrieved from https://www.apnews.com/article/immigration-florida-lawsuits-everglades-detention-centers-5022518619b4903837a83049
- The ongoing legal battle against the "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center in Florida is centered around the claim that it violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by bypassing the required environmental review.
- The construction and operation of the detention center threatens sensitive wetlands in the Everglades, according to environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians.
- Technology is playing a significant role in the legal challenge, with arguments surrounding the extent of federal law's application in the case.
- The future of the detention center, capable of holding up to 5,000 detainees, is uncertain due to legal complications and environmental concerns.
- As the climate-change crisis continues, policy-and-legislation, politics, general-news, and environmental-science are all intertwined in the debate surrounding the controversial detention center.
- Gizmodo, along with other news outlets, has reported on the legal battles and ongoing controversy surrounding the Alligator Alcatraz facility, highlighting its impact on the environment and human rights.
