Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration has moved swiftly to contest a federal judge’s recent ruling that aligns with environmental advocacy groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, mandating that operations at a debated immigrant detention facility in the Everglades must cease. The state has submitted a notice of appeal following U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams’ issuance of a preliminary injunction.
The court’s ruling halts any further construction and prohibits the addition of new detainees to the facility, which locally has been labeled “Alligator Alcatraz.” Judge Williams has also mandated the dismantling of temporary fencing, the removal of detention-center lighting, and other equipment within the next 60 days.
In line with standard procedure, the appeal documentation lacks specifics on the arguments the DeSantis administration plans to present at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. The judge’s decision originated from a lawsuit initiated by the Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, in conjunction with the Miccosukee Tribe.
Williams highlighted in her 82-page ruling that the plaintiffs provided substantial evidence illustrating significant environmental threats associated with the facility. She stated that while the defendants emphasized the importance of immigration enforcement, they failed to justify the location of the detention camp as particularly suitable or essential for their aims.
Opened in July at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, previously used for flight training, Florida officials posited the facility as part of an initiative to bolster President Donald Trump’s stance against illegal immigration.
State officials have contested claims that the facility poses risks to the environment, citing the airport’s long-standing operational history. However, Judge Williams dismissed these assertions, noting the added environmental concerns stemming from extensive paving and increased artificial lighting. She emphasized that the level of light pollution has significantly worsened since the camp’s establishment, alongside harmful water runoff from the newly added asphalt.
Moreover, the lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of Florida, claims violations of the National Environmental Policy Act, which mandates thorough assessments of potential environmental impacts prior to the approval of such projects. Williams noted that there was “no process” in place to review the environmental risks posed by the facility, which is located near the Big Cypress National Preserve.
Details concerning the number of detainees currently at the facility remain unclear. Initially, Florida officials projected a capacity of up to 3,000 detainees, potentially expandable by another 1,000. Recently, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie revised this estimate, stating the facility could accommodate 2,000 detainees and currently houses around 1,000.
Judge Williams’ ruling arrived following a temporary restraining order she issued on August 7, which had already stalled any expansion efforts by state and federal authorities. This environmental case is one of two high-profile legal matters concerning the facility, with the other focusing on the accessibility of legal representation for detainees.
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