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Federal Judge Halts Expansion of “Alligator Alcatraz” over Environmental Violations

HeadlineAug 22, 2025

A federal judge in Miami has ordered the Trump administration to stop transferring immigrants to a remote, poorly constructed immigration jail on an airfield in the Florida Everglades swamp, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by Republicans. Thursday’s ruling finds Florida and the federal government acted illegally by omitting an environmental review before building and opening Alligator Alcatraz. Trump officials will now have to dismantle much of the detention camp to remove “all generators, gas, sewage, and other waste and waste receptacles” that were installed, due to environmental violations. This has raised concerns of how the facility could remain operational with hundreds of immigrants still inside. The decision came as part of a federal lawsuit filed by environmentalists and the Miccosukee Tribe.

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