ATLANTA — An appeals court on Thursday blocked a federal judge’s order to close Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention facility.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier called the move “a win for Florida and for President Donald Trump’s agenda.”
6 p.m. report:
“Victory secured against activist judge who held me in contempt! The 11th Circuit not only blocked Judge Williams’ order to close Alligator Alcatraz, but they blocked her from proceeding with the case until the appeal is complete,” Uthmeier posted on social media platform X.
The ruling comes after a federal judge recently ordered the state to cease operations at Alligator Alcatraz within 60 days.
Florida officials argued dismantling the facility would cost taxpayers $15 to $20 million and cripple their ability to handle what Gov. Ron DeSantis has called an “immigration crisis of unprecedented magnitude.”
The court agreed, warning that without the site, the state’s system could be pushed “to a breaking point.”
“Alligator Alcatraz is, in fact, like we’ve always said, open for business,” DeSantis said following the ruling. “The mission continues and we’re going to continue leading the way when it comes to immigration enforcement.”
Meanwhile, environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe continue to argue the facility threatens sensitive wetlands.
But for now, the injunction is paused — meaning “Alligator Alcatraz” stays open while the case plays out.
“My first impression after reading through the majority and dissenting opinion is that, as Judge Jordan pointed out in his dissent, the majority did not give any deference to the lower court’s ruling or process,” said legal analyst David Weinstein. “They also viewed the irreparable harm that the defendants would suffer as one related to immigration policy and not the environment, which is really what this particular case is about.”
5 p.m. report:
Those who are against the project began reacting following the ruling.
In a statement to Local 10 News, Friends of the Everglades said, in part:
“If the DeSantis and Trump administrations choose to ramp operations back up at the detention center, they will just be throwing good money after bad because this ill-considered facility — which is causing harm to the Everglades — will ultimately be shut down.”
The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians also sent Local 10 News a statement, which read:
“We are disappointed in the majority’s decision to stay the injunction. We were prepared for this result and will continue to litigate the matter. We find some solace in the dissent’s accurate analysis of the law and will continue to fight for our Mother Everglades.”
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