Judge hears arguments for halting ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ over environmental concerns

Published August 6, 2025 4:46pm ET



A federal judge heard arguments Wednesday on whether to halt construction of the “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center, in a lawsuit filed against the Trump administration over concerns about the facility’s environmental impact.

The Florida-run immigration facility in the Everglades has garnered national headlines due to its unique location for holding illegal immigrants for detention before deportation. Judge Kathleen Williams of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, an Obama appointee, heard arguments in a federal courthouse in Miami over a proposed preliminary injunction to halt operations at the detention facility.

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