Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) announced Thursday that an appeals court successfully blocked a ruling from an Obama-appointed federal judge that had halted operations at the controversial immigration detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams’ August 7th order that had issued a temporary restraining order preventing further construction of the detention facility.
Williams had cited environmental concerns as the basis for her ruling.
DeSantis celebrated the appellate court’s decision, characterizing it as a victory against what he termed a “leftist” judge appointed by former President Barack Obama.
The governor accused Williams of attempting to interfere with Florida’s immigration enforcement efforts.
The facility earned its nickname due to its unique location in the Florida Everglades, surrounded by alligator-infested waters that make escape virtually impossible for detainees.
The remote detention center sits on an abandoned airfield in the middle of the swampland.
DeSantis dismissed media reports suggesting the facility would permanently shut down following Williams’ initial ruling.
He emphasized that illegal immigrants had continued to be processed and returned to their home countries throughout the legal proceedings.
“The mission continues on immigration enforcement. The media was giddy that somehow Alligator Alcatraz was ‘shutting down.’ Now we told them that that wasn’t true, there had been illegal aliens continuing to be there and removed and returned to their home country,” DeSantis stated during his announcement.
The governor criticized the original ruling, arguing that Williams had implausibly determined Florida could not use its own property to assist federal immigration enforcement.
He specifically challenged the judge’s requirement for an environmental impact statement.
Said DeSantis, “But they ran with the narrative because some leftist judge ruled implausibly that somehow Florida wasn’t allowed to use our own property to help the federal government in this important mission because they didn’t do an environmental impact statement.”
“Well, we said we would fight that, and we said the mission would continue, and I’m pleased to say that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has just stayed that ruling and stayed the case.”
“So Alligator Alcatraz is, in fact, like we always said, open for business,” DeSantis declared.
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Williams’ original ruling had forced the transfer of illegal immigrants detained at the facility to other detention centers across the state, per the Daily Caller.
Her order also imposed an indefinite halt on any further construction activities at the site.
The federal judge’s ruling had additionally prohibited housing any new detainees at the Everglades facility, effectively suspending its operations pending environmental review.
This decision drew sharp criticism from state officials and immigration enforcement advocates.
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of both Florida state officials and the Department of Homeland Security, which had jointly appealed Williams’ decision.
The appellate court placed a comprehensive stay on the lower court’s ruling.
The three-judge appellate panel stated their decision clearly in court documents.
“After careful consideration, we grant the defendants’ motions and we stay the preliminary injunction and the underlying case itself pending appeal,” the appellate judges wrote in their ruling.
Attorney General James Uthmeier (R-FL) originally proposed the detention facility concept in June, presenting it as an innovative solution to immigration enforcement challenges.
The proposal quickly gained traction within state government circles.
The Trump administration provided support for the facility, viewing it as an effective tool for immigration enforcement.
