Judge orders closure of Trump’s Florida ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration center
Trump’s Alligator Alcatraz set to close after judge ruling
- A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction to halt the expansion and begin the closure of a controversial immigration detention centre in Florida's Everglades, known as Alligator Alcatraz.
- US District Judge Kathleen Williams formalised a temporary halt, citing violations of environmental laws and the state's failure to justify the facility's location or consider alternatives.
- The judge expects the facility's population to decline within 60 days through transfers, after which fencing, lighting, and generators are to be removed from the site.
- The state of Florida has filed a notice of appeal against the ruling, while environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe hailed the decision as a landmark victory for the Everglades.
- The detention centre, quickly built two months ago, has faced criticism for its impact on sensitive wetlands and reports of poor conditions for detainees.