A federal judge in Florida ordered late Thursday that some of “Alligator Alcatraz” be shut down and barred the Sunshine State from bringing in more detainees to the migrant detention facility in a blow to the administration as it ramps up its immigration crackdown.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, an appointee of former President Obama, ruled that Florida must halt the expansion of “Alligator Alcatraz” and the installation of more lighting. She also ordered the removal of all “generators, gas, sewage, and other waste and waste receptacles that were installed to support this project” within 60 days.
Williams, in her 82-page ruling, said that the government must remove temporary fencing to allow Miccosukee “Tribe members access to the site consistent with the access they enjoyed before the erection of the detention camp.”
The ruling is a win for environmental organizations that have argued the detention facility, which opened last month, poses a danger to the Florida Everglades and the surrounding wildlife.
Williams said the project creates “irreparable harm in the form of habitat loss and increased mortality to endangered species in the area.”
She also barred Florida from detaining any additional people at the facility “not already being detained at the site at the time of this Order going into effect.”
The Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said earlier this month that “Alligator Alcatraz” is a model for state-run immigrant detention facilities.
The Hill reached out to DHS for comment on Thursday’s ruling.
The facility utilizes tents with chain-link fences as cells to house migrants. Detainees at the facility have complained about poorly functioning air conditioning, insects and maggot-filled food.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who said the facility would be able to house up to 5,000 detainees, argued that “Alligator Alcatraz” would have “zero environmental impacts.”
Williams’ ruling came the same day as her previous temporary order to suspend construction at the facility for two weeks expired. In June, environmental groups sued, alleging that the detention center does not comply with environmental regulations.
Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz dismissed parts of a suit brought by detainees, who alleged they were not being given sufficient access to lawyers.
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