Appeals court pauses order to shut down ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

A federal appeals court temporarily blocked a judge’s order to halt and dismantle operations at “Alligator Alcatraz” and remove the facility from environmentally sensitive Everglades property in southern Collier County.

The Eleventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Sept. 4 voted 2-1 to grant motions by the state and Department of Homeland Security to stay a Miami federal judge’s preliminary injunction that forced operations to wind down within 60 days, by Oct. 21, while the judge makes a final ruling.

The divided three-judge panel stopped short of overturning the injunction, which stems from a lawsuit filed in June by Friends of the Everglades and Center for Biological Diversity to protect imperiled wildlife and fragile ecosystems; the Miccosukee Tribe later joined the lawsuit.

Environmentalists vowed to continue their fight against the “environmentally destructive activities” at the immigration detention center in Ochopee in Big Cypress National Preserve.

“The case is far from over,” said Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades. “In fact, it’s just starting and we’re committed to fighting on. … While disappointing, we never expected ultimate success to be easy. We’re hopeful the preliminary injunction will be affirmed when it’s reviewed on its merits during the appeal.”

She contended that if the state and federal government choose to resume operations, “they will just be throwing good money after bad because this ill-considered facility — which is causing harm to the Everglades — will ultimately be shut down.”

Attorney Elise Bennett, of the Center for Biological Diversity, called it a “heartbreaking blow to America’s Everglades and every living creature there” and said she was confident they’ll “ultimately prevail.”

“I know many are questioning why the Trump and DeSantis administrations are insisting on pouring millions of taxpayer dollars into this dirty, destructive detention facility in the heart of the Everglades,” Bennett added. “Our legal system can and should stop this incredibly harmful boondoggle.”