The facility has been a hub of illegal alien deportations in the State of Florida. However, DeSantis appears to have anticipated the judge’s move and has instituted a ‘back-up plan.’
“This was not something that was unexpected. This is a judge that was not going to give us a fair shake. This was preordained. Very much an activist judge that is trying to do policy from the bench,” DeSantis said at a press conference. “This is not going to deter us. We are going to continue working on the deportations, advancing that mission.”
The comments came after U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, an Obama appointee, issued an 82-page order halting new detainees at the facility in Ochopee, Florida, and requiring its dismantling within 60 days. Williams cited the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and claims of environmental harm raised by the Miccosukee Tribe and advocacy groups.
Williams wrote that the site’s construction “creates irreparable harm in the form of habitat loss and increased mortality to endangered species in the area,” specifically referencing the Florida panther. She ordered industrial lighting, fencing, generators, sewage facilities, and other infrastructure removed. Florida officials blasted the ruling as a political maneuver.
“This ruling from an activist judge ignores the fact that this land has already been developed for a decade,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “It is another attempt to prevent the President from fulfilling the American people’s mandate to remove the worst of the worst including gang members, murderers, pedophiles, terrorists, and rapists from our country.”
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier called Williams’ move “a desperate attempt to derail enforcement,” adding: “Alligator Alcatraz remains operational, and we will not stop in our mission to detain, deport, and deliver for the American people.”
DeSantis also announced plans to expand detention capacity, unveiling a second site north of Jacksonville.
“Because of the success of Alligator Alcatraz, there’s demand for more. So I did announce that we’re going to be opening another facility right outside of Jacksonville in Baker County. We’ve called that the ‘Deportation Depot,’” the governor said. “That is something that will be able to hold another 2,000 and there’s an airport close by. So you have the processing and the removal.”
Critics have accused the state of threatening sensitive Everglades ecosystems, but DeSantis supporters point out the airport site has been in use for decades and argue the sudden environmental concerns are less about science than about blocking immigration enforcement.
“Every Florida governor, every Florida senator, and countless political figures have pledged support for the Everglades,” Williams wrote in her ruling.
But DeSantis is making it clear that he sees the fight as bigger than one detention center.
“We’re now in this position where we’re leading the state effort to help the Trump administration actually enforce the law and actually remove these illegal aliens not just from Florida, but from our country,” he said. “That’s something that we didn’t have for four years and now that’s something that we’re absolutely on board with making sure happens going forward.”
For now, about 400 detainees remain at “Alligator Alcatraz.” Whether they will be transferred, released, or deported depends on the appeals process and how aggressively Florida chooses to challenge the ruling.
We’re not going to be deterred. We are totally in the right on this,” DeSantis added.
