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Court Ruling on Alligator Alcatraz
On August 21, 2025, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued a preliminary injunction halting both the expansion and all new detainee transfers to the “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center located in Florida’s Everglades National Preserve (Washington Post, ABC News). The order requires the state to begin dismantling the facility’s temporary infrastructure within 60 days and transfer all existing detainees out of the site.
Background of the Facility
The detention center, formally the South Florida Detention Facility, was built in July 2025 at the Dade Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Big Cypress National Preserve. Constructed under emergency authority by the Florida Division of Emergency Management, it was designed to hold thousands of immigration detainees in tented compounds. The site was promoted by Governor Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump as part of a broader restrictive immigration agenda.
Conditions Inside Alligator Alcatraz
Reports from within the facility described overcrowded tents, unsanitary living conditions, inadequate plumbing, insect infestations, and poor access to legal counsel and medical care. These conditions raised immediate concerns from advocates, who argued that immigrants detained there were denied basic rights and humane treatment (Wikipedia).
State Response and Appeal
The DeSantis administration quickly appealed Judge Williams’s decision, arguing that the facility should continue operations under state control. Advocacy groups, immigrant rights organizations, and the Miccosukee Tribe celebrated the ruling as a major step forward in protecting vulnerable populations (ABC News).
How Spar and Bernstein Helps Immigrants
At Spar and Bernstein, our mission is to stand with immigrants who face detention, deportation, and family separation. While this case focused on the closure of Alligator Alcatraz, the broader reality is that many immigrants remain detained across the country in facilities where access to legal help is limited. Our team of immigration attorneys provides representation in bond hearings, deportation defense, asylum claims, and family-based petitions. If you or a loved one is detained, we can work tirelessly to secure release and protect your rights.
FAQ
What is Alligator Alcatraz?
Alligator Alcatraz is the nickname for a temporary immigration detention facility built in the Everglades in 2025. It was intended to house thousands of detainees but was ordered to shut down after legal challenges.
Why was the facility shut down?
A federal judge ruled that the state failed to follow legal procedures before construction and that conditions at the site raised serious concerns. The court ordered detainees to be moved out within 60 days.
How can Spar and Bernstein help immigrants in detention?
Our immigration attorneys represent individuals in detention, helping them fight deportation, apply for asylum, request bond, and reunite with family. We focus entirely on protecting the rights and future of immigrants.