• A federal judge orders a 14-day construction pause at “Alligator Alcatraz.”
• The Everglades ecosystem and tribal lands now gain temporary judicial protection.
• Litigants highlight failures to conduct a federal environmental review (NEPA).

MIAMI, FL (TDR) — U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams has halted all new construction activities at “Alligator Alcatraz,” the controversial ICE detention camp in the Florida Everglades, preventing further land filling, paving, or infrastructure additions for the next 14 days .

Legal Foundations and Plaintiffs

In a lawsuit spearheaded by Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, plaintiffs argued the site bypassed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), threatening multiple endangered species and undermining Everglades restoration efforts . The Miccosukee Tribe, granted intervention, cited impacts on ceremonial grounds and tribal lands.

“This facility endangers the fragile Everglades ecosystem, home to the Florida panther and bonneted bat,” environmental attorney Paul Schwiep told Judge Williams .

Joint Federal–State Partnership

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Florida’s lawyer, Jesse Panuccio, claimed the project was purely a state initiative. Under cross-examination, he conceded ICE’s role made it a joint federal–state partnership, obligating compliance with federal environmental laws .

Environmental and Cultural Harms

Wetlands ecologist Christopher McVoy documented soil compaction, vegetation loss, and stormwater runoff risks after touring the site. He criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis’s claim of “zero impact” as ludicrous . Light pollution from the Dade–Collier Training and Transition Airport-based camp threatens nocturnal species and undermines Big Cypress National Preserve protections .

Financial and Transparency Concerns

Investigations by the Miami Herald revealed $450 million in costs, lucrative contracts to GOP donors, and absence of any emergency management plan despite flooding on opening day with just 1.5 inches of rain .

Scope of the Injunction

Judge Williams’s bench order permits continued detention operations but bars excavating, paving new roads, erecting fences, or installing lighting. A formal written order is forthcoming, outlining compliance steps for a full NEPA review, including public comment and cultural-resource assessments.

Broader Implications and Next Steps

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This injunction may set a national precedent for state-run detention centers, ensuring future projects undergo rigorous environmental reviews and tribal consultations. Rep. Anna Eskamani has called for Congressional hearings on the facility’s environmental and human rights impacts.

Will this temporary pause lead to a full injunction and enforce federal environmental protections?

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