A federal judge has slammed the brakes on any further work at the controversial immigrant detention camp deep in the Florida Everglades—nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz.”
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Mary Williams issued a 14-day freeze on operations, following two days of testimony on the damage the facility could cause to the fragile Everglades ecosystem, according to ABC News.
The camp, built in just eight days, had been celebrated by top Republicans. “I want this to be a model,” said former President Donald Trump. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis echoed that, saying more camps were already in the works.
But behind the political applause are serious concerns.
Migrant families, watchdog groups, and even some corrections officers are sounding the alarm. They’ve described the facility’s tent housing as “oversized dog kennels” and slammed the conditions as “inhumane.”
The court hearing will resume Tuesday. For now, Judge Williams made it clear: no expansion, no construction, and no new detainees for two weeks—at least until the court decides what comes next.
