A federal judge ordered Florida and federal officials on Thursday to halt further construction at the state’s controversial Everglades immigration detention complex—nicknamed “ Alligator Alcatraz ”—for 14 days while the court considers a broader request to block the project under federal environmental law. Detentions and day-to-day operations at the site may continue during the pause.

US District Judge Kathleen M. Williams issued the temporary restraining order (TRO), stopping new lighting, paving, fencing, fill, or placement of additional structures at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport (TNT) site inside the Big Cypress ecosystem. It also binds any contractors “in active concert” with state or federal defendants.

Judge Williams declined to shut down the facility’s curr

See Full Page