Federal Judge Orders Closure of Trump-Era “Alligator Alcatraz” Immigration Jail in Florida

A federal judge in Miami has ordered the closure of the Trump administration’s “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention facility within 60 days and prohibited the intake of new detainees during the wind-down period.

U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams issued the ruling late Thursday, building on a temporary restraining order issued two weeks ago that halted further construction at the remote tented camp. The facility has faced criticism for harsh conditions, alleged detainee abuse, and denial of due process.

In her 82-page order, published Friday, Williams cited severe and irreparable environmental damage to the Florida Everglades caused by the facility. She noted that plans to develop the site into a large airport in the 1960s were rejected due to similar environmental concerns.

Williams explained that Florida’s governors, senators, and many other political figures — even past presidents — have consistently promised to support the restoration and protection of the Everglades. He noted that the order simply enforces the fundamental duties set forth in legislation created to keep those promises.

The judge prohibited any further construction at the site and ordered that the current detainee population—estimated at approximately 700—cannot be increased. Within 60 days, all detention-related infrastructure, including fencing, generators, and fixtures, must be removed.

The ruling follows a lawsuit filed by a coalition of environmental groups and a Native American tribe against the state of Florida and the federal government. Williams found that the eight-day construction of the jail at a disused airfield in late June damaged sensitive wetlands and further threatened federally protected species.

Eve Samples, who leads Friends of the Everglades, one of the organizations behind the lawsuit, said the ruling represents “a significant victory for the Everglades and for Americans who believe this threatened wilderness should be preserved instead of used for profit.”

The decision represents a setback for the Trump administration’s detention and deportation policies. The facility previously held up to 1,400 detainees, many of whom had no criminal record. President Trump had described the camp as housing “some of the most vicious people on the planet.”

There was no immediate response from the Florida Department of Emergency Management, which operates the jail for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or from the Department of Homeland Security. State lawyers indicated in court last week that they plan to appeal any adverse ruling.

In anticipation of the closure order, hundreds of detainees were relocated to other immigration facilities over the weekend. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced plans to open a second immigration detention center at a disused prison near Gainesville.