A federal appeals court has given Florida the green light to keep operating its controversial migrant detention facility deep in the Everglades, a site critics call “Alligator Alcatraz.”
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court ruling that had halted construction and blocked housing of new detainees at the site. The decision reinstates full operations while the legal case continues.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced the ruling Thursday, calling it a major win for Florida and the Trump administration, which both backed the project.
“The media was giddy that somehow Alligator Alcatraz was ‘shutting down,’” DeSantis said. “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 accused U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, an Obama appointee, of overstepping her authority when she blocked the facility on environmental grounds, per the Conservative Brief.
“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,” DeSantis said.
“Well, we said we would fight that … 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,” he added.
Williams had issued her order on August 7, citing environmental concerns and the lack of a formal environmental impact study. Her decision temporarily suspended housing new detainees and froze construction, forcing transfers to other detention centers across Florida.
Florida and the Department of Homeland Security quickly appealed, arguing that Williams’ order undermined state and federal immigration enforcement.
The three-judge appellate panel agreed. “After careful consideration, we grant the defendants’ motions and we stay the preliminary injunction and the underlying case itself pending appeal,” the court wrote.
The facility is built on a former airfield surrounded by alligator-infested waters, a natural barrier that officials say makes escape nearly impossible. Supporters say the remote location boosts security. Critics continue to raise concerns about environmental impact and detainee welfare.
Attorney General James Uthmeier, who first proposed the site in June as an “innovative solution” to detention shortages, praised the court’s decision. He has described the facility as a way to ease strain on existing centers and accelerate deportations.
The Trump administration has strongly supported the project. Homeland Security officials said the Everglades site provides “critical additional detention capacity” at a time when existing facilities are overwhelmed.
Williams’ ruling had sparked outrage among Florida leaders who argued her decision put politics above enforcement. They warned that halting the site would weaken immigration control and overburden other facilities.
For now, the appeals court ruling allows construction to resume and detainees to return. The broader case will continue as judges consider whether Florida and DHS followed proper procedures when establishing the site.
DeSantis framed the outcome as part of a larger fight over immigration. “The mission continues on immigration enforcement,” he said. “We told people from the very beginning that this was not shutting down — and now the court has affirmed that we were right.”
