Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reportedly said Thursday that immigration enforcement at the state’s new detention facility, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” will continue without interruption, despite a federal judge’s order halting additional construction for two weeks.
“Operations at Alligator Alcatraz are ongoing and deportations are continuing,” Mr. DeSantis wrote on X, underscoring his administration’s commitment to maintaining the state’s expanded immigration enforcement infrastructure.
The statement came hours after U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued a temporary order pausing certain construction activities at the site while she considers claims from environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe.
Her ruling permits the center to keep operating and housing detainees but prohibits the installation of new industrial lighting, additional paving or excavation, new fencing, or the erection of new tents, dormitories, or administrative buildings during the two-week period.
Alex Lanfranconi, the governor’s communications director, emphasized that the order “will have no impact on immigration enforcement in Florida. Alligator Alcatraz will remain operational, continuing to serve as a force multiplier to enhance deportation efforts.”
The facility, located at the repurposed Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee, was rapidly constructed two months ago to meet growing demands on the state’s immigration system.
Built to hold up to 3,000 detainees in temporary tent structures, the center is part of what supporters describe as a necessary and decisive approach to border enforcement, aligning with the Trump administration’s emphasis on securing the border and removing those in the country illegally.
Critics, including environmental groups and tribal representatives, argue that the project runs afoul of federal environmental law.
They say the facility threatens sensitive wetlands that are home to protected plants and animals and could undermine decades of restoration efforts in the Everglades.
Their lawsuit contends the detention center violates the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires federal agencies to assess environmental impact before undertaking major construction projects.
Attorneys for Florida countered during Thursday’s hearing that the center’s construction and operations fall entirely under the state’s authority and that NEPA does not apply.
They stressed that while the facility houses federal immigration detainees, its development was initiated, funded, and managed by Florida — reflecting the state’s right to address immigration challenges within its borders.
Attorneys for the environmental groups disputed that claim, asserting that the center’s sole purpose is to serve federal immigration enforcement priorities and that it would not exist without federal involvement.
Judge Williams’s temporary order leaves the facility’s core mission intact. Deportations continue, detainees remain housed, and the state’s operations proceed — but further expansion is paused until the court can determine whether environmental laws apply.
For Mr. DeSantis and his allies, the ruling represents a procedural pause rather than a substantive setback. The governor’s swift reassurance to Floridians made clear that immigration enforcement remains a top priority. “Operations… are ongoing,” he repeated — signaling that while legal wrangling may continue, the state’s resolve will not waver.
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