Judge halts expansion of Florida Everglades immigration detention center
Aug 22, 2025·Location: Ochopee, FL

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction halting further expansion of an immigration detention center nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz" built in the Florida Everglades. The judge ordered the winding down of the facility and transfer of detainees to other locations within 60 days, citing violations of environmental laws and inadequate consideration of alternative locations. Environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe had challenged the project, arguing it threatened protected wetlands and reversed decades of Everglades restoration efforts.
Sources
- Florida must stop expanding 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration center, judge says
NPR·Aug 22, 2025·archived copy
- Florida must stop expanding ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration center, judge says
Associated Press·Aug 22, 2025·archived copy
- CBS News
- US district court halts expansion of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigrant detention center
- Miami Herald
- evrimagaci.org
More incidents in Florida
- Cuban man detained in Florida, deported to Central African Republic, held in BanguiOct 6, 2026 · West Palm Beach, FL
- Man dons ICE costume, intimidates Brazilian election voters in MiamiOct 4, 2026 · Miami, FL
- Cuban man detained by ICE for two months, mother pleads for his releaseOct 3, 2026 · Hialeah, FL
- Detainees sue over conditions at Miramar ICE facility in FloridaOct 2, 2026 · Miramar, FL
- US citizen punched by ICE agent during Naples Manor van stop, protest plannedOct 2, 2026 · Naples Manor, FL
- Three Guatemalan taqueria workers detained in Tallahassee ICE raid, restaurant shuts downOct 2, 2026 · Tallahassee, FL