On Aug. 21, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ordered a stoppage of the expansion of Alligator Alcatraz, and the dismantling of many components of the facility within 60 days, including “generators, gas, sewage, and other waste and waste receptacles that were installed to support the project.” Additionally, the ruling also requires that the government remove the temporary fencing that was restricting access to members of the Miccosukee Tribe. 

“While both the state and federal government immediately appealed the ruling, the decision is a win for the parties challenging the facility with the lawsuit, as well as the greater Everglades ecosystem and the environment writ large,” said SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis. 

The lawsuit stems from an improper disregard for environmental protections, namely the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), DePaolis said. The detention center was erected quickly, without any of the requisite environmental analysis that would have evaluated the likely impact of the facility on the natural resources of the area, such as water quality, wildlife, and the surrounding ecosystems. Judge Williams agreed, issuing her order to cease operations, as many stakeholders have continued to raise concerns about water, noise and light pollution.   

“This case is important for both the immediate impacts to the greater Everglades as well as the dangerous precedent that its construction could set. Already the facility is having an impact on the wildlife such as the Florida Panther that were known to utilize that area,” DePaolis said. “There are also unknown impacts to water quality, as there has not been an evaluation of the construction or water and sewer-management plans. Even more dangerous though, is the idea that environmental protections can be ignored for such a project.”

“The environmental laws we have in the United States are in place to ensure that the resources held in trust by our governments are not wantonly eroded or destroyed. A desire to move quickly is not reason enough to cast these protections aside, and the complete disregard for any environmental evaluation should not be taken lightly. In order to protect our environment into the future, it is imperative that the rule of law be respected, and Judge Williams’ decision reaffirms the legal protections that our country grants our environment.”

In June, SCCF joined 13 partner organizations in opposition of Alligator Alcatraz in a joint statement sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis.