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Judge denies request to close ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

Story by Sarah Bennett
• 9h • 2 min read



Judge Denies Request to Close ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek denied a detainee’s request for a preliminary injunction to close the Everglades immigration facility nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” saying the plaintiff had not shown irreparable harm.
Dudek said, “While there may indeed be deficiencies at Alligator Alcatraz that ultimately justify its dissolution, the plaintiff has not made the extraordinary showing needed to justify immediate relief of such magnitude. Plaintiff is essentially asking this court to close a sizable and expensive detention facility, all before any decision on the merits of its legality.”

Supporters of the facility and the state argue that Florida is acting within cooperative agreements that allow states to assist with immigration enforcement amid overcrowded federal detention systems. They add that the Everglades site was created to quickly address capacity shortfalls and public safety concerns during surges in migration.



(L/R) US President, President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis tour a migrant detention center (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

The detainee, identified as M.A., and two other lawsuits allege the state-run facility usurps federal immigration authority, removes detainees from normal tracking, and limits access to lawyers.
M.A. said, “The statute requires federal control over all delegated enforcement activities. Yet Florida asserts that it has total control over detention decisions.”

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His lawsuit claims immigration is a federal issue, and Florida agencies and private contractors hired by the state have no authority to operate the facility under federal law. Detainees who enter the facility disappear from the normal detainee tracking system and have difficulty accessing legal help, the lawsuit said.
A separate judge in Miami ordered the facility wound down over failures in its environmental review, but an appellate panel has stayed that order, so the center remains open while the cases proceed.



US President President Donald Trump (2L), Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (L) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Critics warn that delegating detention operations to states risks uneven standards, reduced oversight, and constitutional conflicts, particularly around due process and access to counsel.
This story was reported by content partner Modern Newsstand LLC.

Judge denies request to close ‘Alligator Alcatraz’