Judge Orders Facility Closed
A federal judge ordered the controversial Florida detention center, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” to stop accepting new detainees and be dismantled within 60 days.
Judge Kathleen Williams cited environmental harm, writing the site “creates irreparable harm in the form of habitat loss and increased mortality to endangered species,” including the Florida panther.
DeSantis Pushes Back
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed to resist the order.
“This is not going to deter us. We are going to continue working on the deportations, advancing that mission,” he said, calling the judge “an activist judge that is trying to do policy from the bench.”
Support from Officials
Florida officials criticized the ruling. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called it “another attempt to prevent the President from fulfilling the American people’s mandate,” while Attorney General James Uthmeier said, “Alligator Alcatraz remains operational, and we will not stop in our mission to detain, deport, and deliver for the American people.”
Expansion Plans
DeSantis announced a second facility, the “Deportation Depot,” near Jacksonville, saying, “Because of the success of Alligator Alcatraz, there’s demand for more… We’re absolutely on board with making sure [deportations] happen going forward.”
