A federal judge has ordered Florida to begin dismantling parts of the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention facility in Ochopee, ruling that it poses serious environmental risks to the Everglades. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued an 82-page decision requiring the state to remove temporary fencing, lighting, generators, and other infrastructure within 60 days.
The ruling is a major setback for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Trump, who had praised the center during a tour in July and urged other states to use it as a model. Environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe filed suit shortly after the project was announced, arguing that it violated the National Environmental Policy Act, which mandates environmental studies before large-scale federal projects proceed.
Earlier this month, construction was paused by court order, but both DeSantis and the Trump administration have insisted the site caused “zero impact,” pointing to an existing airstrip that was already on the land. Williams, however, cited expert testimony that runoff, wastewater, and new lighting have created “a myriad of risks” for the Everglades, including a loss of 2,000 acres of Florida panther habitat and restricted access for the Miccosukee Tribe to sacred and practical trails used for hunting and harvesting medicinal plants.
Williams concluded that the state failed entirely to evaluate environmental consequences, writing that there was “no process” at all. Advocacy groups celebrated the ruling as a historic victory. “This is a landmark victory for the Everglades and countless Americans who believe this imperiled wilderness should be protected, not exploited,” said Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades. She stressed that the decision sends a clear warning to leaders who ignore environmental protections.
Florida officials quickly pushed back. Kevin Guthrie, head of the state’s Division of Emergency Management, filed an appeal within hours. DeSantis told Fox News he expected the loss and was confident an appeal would succeed, insisting it would not derail the administration’s resolve to support Trump’s immigration policies. Homeland Security officials also dismissed the ruling, claiming the land had already been developed for years and arguing that the state still has “the law, the facts, and common sense” on its side.
Trump, who has been closely tied to the project, was said to be frustrated by the ruling. According to people close to him, he views the order as a political move meant to undermine his immigration agenda and was angered that the courts had dealt such a public blow to an initiative he personally endorsed. The former president reportedly believes environmental concerns are being weaponized against him and has urged his allies to fight the decision aggressively.