ORLANDO, Fla. – A U.S. district judge ordered the facility to close last month, siding with the Miccosukee Tribe and environmental groups. They say the Florida and federal governments violated federal law requiring an environmental review in order to build the detention center in the midst of sensitive wetlands.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams refused to keep the facility open and ordered the defendants to wind down operations.

[VIDEO: President Trump visits ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ in Florida]

However, the appeals court judges said they believe the federal and state governments will likely be able to demonstrate that they didn’t violate environmental law by building “Alligator Alcatraz.” You can read the ruling at the end of this story.

The appellate judges also said the district

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