A U.S. federal judge has mandated the shutdown of President Donald Trump's disputed migrant detention facility in Florida, which was nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz."
The order indicated that the facility was causing significant environmental harm to the Florida Everglades—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and instructed the Trump administration to cease its activities within 60 days.
Furthermore, the 82-page decision stated that no additional detainees could be transferred to the facility and banned any new construction or development at the location.
Florida, which is collaborating with the Trump administration on the construction of the site, has already submitted an appeal.
The ruling represents a significant legal setback for Trump's vision of the center, which has faced extensive criticism due to its severe conditions and possible damage to the local environment.
In Thursday's decision, district court judge Kathleen Williams, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, stated that the facility was inflicting permanent damage on the Florida Everglades and its threatened wildlife.
She also mandated the closure of "all generators, gas, sewage, and other waste receptors," which would significantly impact the center's functionality.
Judge Williams referenced a proposal from the 1960s to construct a tourist airport in the Everglades, which was turned down because of concerns about the potential environmental damage.
"From that point on, each Florida governor, every Florida senator, and numerous local and national political leaders, including presidents, have openly stated their strong backing for the Everglades' restoration, preservation, and safeguarding," she wrote.
This directive merely maintains the fundamental obligations of laws created to fulfill those commitments.
The decision is a temporary restraining order that limits activities at the site as a legal case initiated by environmental organizations against it is being considered.
Environmental organizations that initiated the legal action expressed approval of the decision.
"This marks a significant triumph for the Everglades and many Americans who advocate for the preservation of this vulnerable natural area, rather than its exploitation," said Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades.
It conveys a strong message that environmental regulations need to be upheld by the top officials in our government—and there are repercussions for disregarding them.
The decision made on Thursday follows Judge Williams' earlier action this month, when a temporary restraining order was issued to halt construction at the location.
"Alcatraz Alligator" was promoted as a key element of the Trump administration's efforts to address unauthorized immigration.
Constructed in the heart of a Miami swamp, its name is derived from the local wildlife, including alligators, crocodiles, and pythons, in the nearby wetlands — which Trump claimed would prevent detainees from fleeing.
The facility was built to accommodate 3,000 individuals and was promoted as a prototype for upcoming detention centers aimed at aiding the Trump administration's deportation efforts.
During a trip to the facility in July, Trump commended its ability to detain the "most dangerous migrants, some of the most violent individuals on Earth."
However, since it began functioning, the site has faced numerous legal actions and grievances from environmental activists and nearby residents.
Experts had previously cautioned that harm to the region's wetlands and threatened species might reverse Florida's significant efforts to revive the Everglades, a project that has cost the state billions of dollars.