Federal Judge Temporarily Halts Construction at Controversial Everglades Immigration Facility

A federal judge has ordered Florida authorities to temporarily stop construction on an immigration detention center being built on a remote airstrip in the Everglades. The decision comes as the facility remains operational and continues holding detainees. The halt follows a hearing in which the court considered whether ongoing construction could violate environmental laws.

The order, issued by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, prohibits workers from adding new fill, pavement, or infrastructure for two weeks while the matter proceeds. This ruling adds a new layer of tension to a case that has been unfolding for months, driven by legal challenges from environmental organizations and the Miccosukee Tribe.

Environmental Concerns and Tribal Opposition

Friends of the Everglades and the Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity filed suit on June 27 against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, and Florida’s Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie. The lawsuit argues that the federal and state agencies allowed the construction without any environmental review, bypassing requirements such as those in the Endangered Species Act. Miami-Dade County is also named as a defendant.

On July 30, the Miccosukee Tribe joined the suit, asserting that the facility sits on or near sacred Indigenous land, roughly a twenty-minute drive from the tribe’s main reservation. Plaintiffs claim the project threatens ecologically sensitive wetlands and endangers protected plants and animals. They are asking Judge Williams for a preliminary injunction to shut down operations entirely and block any further building.

An attorney for the environmental groups also sought a temporary restraining order to halt work while the court considers the broader injunction request. Judge Williams noted during the hearing that regardless of the case’s outcome, anything constructed at the site would likely remain there permanently.

A Rapidly Built and Heavily Criticized Facility

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has said the Everglades detention center cost approximately $450 million and was built in eight days on a former Miami-Dade County airport. The site features large white tents and rows of bunk beds, with capacity for up to 5,000 detainees.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier nicknamed the facility “Alligator Alcatraz” in a June 19 video posted to X, describing it as having “no exit, no hiding place” due to its isolation and surrounding wildlife.

In July, the Miami Herald reported on a list of 700 current and potential detainees at the site, revealing that more than 250 have no criminal convictions or pending charges, despite public claims from political leaders that the facility was intended for “deranged psychopaths.”

Detainees Describe Harsh Conditions in Everglades’ Immigration Facility

Interviews conducted by the Associated Press with detainees have painted a grim picture of daily life inside the center. They described the cells as “zoo cages” and “inhumane,” with infestations of mosquitoes, crickets, and frogs. One lawful permanent resident told the AP that detainees cannot bathe and that the floors are flooded with urine and feces.

These accounts have fueled criticism that the center is being used to detain immigrants who present no danger to public safety, while operating under conditions that may violate basic human rights standards.