MIAMI — A federal judge has dismissed part of a lawsuit concerning the rights of detainees at the immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, known as "Alligator Alcatraz." U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz issued the ruling late Monday, stating that claims related to the Fifth Amendment were rendered moot after the Trump administration designated the Krome North Processing Center near Miami as the site for immigration hearings.

The judge's 47-page ruling also granted a motion to transfer the remaining claims to the Middle District of Florida. These claims involve alleged First Amendment violations, including delays in scheduling meetings between detainees and their attorneys, as well as concerns about confidentiality during phone and videoconference communications.

Eunice Cho, an attorney with the ACLU and lead counsel for the detainees, expressed that the federal government only allowed detainees to petition an immigration court due to the lawsuit. "It should not take a lawsuit to force the government to abide by the law and the Constitution," Cho stated. "We look forward to continuing the fight."

During a hearing earlier on Monday, civil rights attorneys sought a preliminary injunction to ensure detainees have access to legal representation and hearings. The state and federal government argued that the southern district of Florida was not the appropriate venue, as the detention center is located in Collier County, which falls under the Middle District.

Judge Ruiz indicated concerns about jurisdiction during a previous hearing. He noted, "Much has changed since the complaint’s filing." Six plaintiffs have met with their lawyers via videoconference, but they reported that these meetings lack confidentiality due to the proximity of staff.

Some detainees claimed they are eligible for bond hearings but have struggled to identify the correct court for those hearings. Ruiz acknowledged that the situation changed when the Krome facility was designated as the immigration court for all detainees at the center.

The judge described the case as having a "tortured procedural history" since it was filed on July 16, shortly after the first group of detainees arrived. He remarked, "Nearly every aspect of the Plaintiffs’ civil action — their causes of action, their facts in support, their theories of venue, their arguments on the merits and their requests for relief — have changed with each filing."

In a related matter, the state and federal defendants raised similar jurisdictional arguments in a second lawsuit involving environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe. This lawsuit seeks to halt further construction and operations at the detention center until it complies with federal environmental laws. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ordered a 14-day pause on construction on August 7, with a ruling expected before the order expires later this week.