Federal officials confirmed on Friday that Florida has received a reimbursement of $608 million for the costs associated with the construction and operation of an immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, colloquially referred to as 'Alligator Alcatraz.' This financial backing may jeopardize the facility's operations once more, especially following a federal judge's injunction issued in August.
This injunction, which favored environmental groups contesting the lack of a comprehensive environmental review prior to the center’s development, required Florida to step back operations within two months. However, an appellate court in Atlanta intervened, temporarily halting the injunction and indicating that the environmental impact study was not a prerequisite due to Florida's delayed receipt of federal funding for the facility.
The appellate panel suggested, “If the federal defendants ultimately decide to approve that request and reimburse Florida, they may need to first conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).” This statement opens the door to further scrutiny of the facility’s environmental compliance before future operations.
The appellate court's ruling has, for now, prevented the detention center from closing and halted the winding down of its activities. These developments follow President Donald Trump’s tour of the facility last July, during which he touted it as a potential blueprint for similar facilities nationwide amidst efforts to bolster deportations.
Environmental advocates, however, contend that the state-run center legally qualifies as a federal project due to the federal funding it relies on. Elise Bennett, Florida and Caribbean director at the Center for Biological Diversity, commented, “This is a federal project built with federal funds and requires a complete environmental review.” She pledged concerted efforts to halt the facility's operations, labeling it a “lawless, destructive and wasteful debacle.”
