Trump’s controversial ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ prison is ordered to close

WorldPolitics
23 Aug 2025 • 1:43 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • 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, nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz".
  • US District Judge Kathleen Williams formalized a temporary halt, stating the facility violated environmental laws and that the state failed to justify its location or consider alternatives.
  • The ruling requires the facility's population to decline within 60 days via transfers, after which fencing, lighting, and generators must be removed.
  • Florida's state government has filed a notice of appeal against the decision, with a spokesman for Governor DeSantis asserting that "The deportations will continue until morale improves."
  • Environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, who initiated the lawsuit, have praised the ruling as a landmark victory for the Everglades and environmental protection.

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