The Federal Court Permanently Closes the Controversial 'Alligator Alcatraz' Prison in Florida

A federal judge in Miami issued a ruling on Friday to close the controversial immigration prison run by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, known as 'Alligator Alcatraz,' within 60 days.

The decision by Judge Kathleen Williams extends a temporary restraining order she issued two weeks ago to halt expansion efforts at the remote tent camp, which has faced widespread criticism for harsh conditions, mistreatment of detainees, and violations of legal protections during deportation.

Williams emphasized in her detailed ruling (82 pages) that the facility has caused significant harm to the sensitive ecosystem in the Everglades region, affirming that the decision aligns with the government's commitments to protect the environment, citing a previous proposal to convert the site into a massive tourist airport that was rejected in the 1960s for the same reasons.

The ruling prohibits any new construction, freezes the number of detainees at 700, and mandates the removal of all detention facilities and equipment after the specified deadline.

This ruling is a victory for environmental coalitions and Native American tribes that filed a lawsuit against the federal government and the state of Florida, after rapid construction efforts caused significant damage to the nature reserve and protected animal species.

This decision represents a setback for immigration deportation policies during Trump's administration, who described the prison at its peak as designated for 'the most dangerous criminals,' despite detaining hundreds of individuals without criminal records or pending cases. This comes alongside the announcement by Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis of the opening of a new immigration prison near Gainesville to increase capacity.