Federal Judge Denies Request to Shut Down Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detention Facility

ORLANDO, Fla. — A federal judge on Thursday denied a request to immediately close Florida’s controversial immigration detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” ruling that the plaintiff failed to meet the high legal standard required to justify an emergency shutdown.

U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek rejected a motion for a preliminary injunction filed by a detainee identified in court records as M.A., who argued the state-run facility unlawfully encroaches on federal immigration authority and subjects detainees to unconstitutional conditions.

In his ruling, Dudek said the detainee did not demonstrate irreparable harm, a key requirement for extraordinary court intervention before a case is fully litigated. While the judge acknowledged that serious legal questions remain, he concluded that an immediate closure was not warranted at this stage.

Legal Authority at the Center of the Case

The lawsuit contends that immigration detention is solely a federal responsibility and that Florida’s operation of the Everglades-based facility exceeds state authority. Attorneys for the detainee also raised concerns about access to legal counsel and tracking systems commonly used in federal detention centers.

State and federal attorneys countered that the facility operates under lawful agreements and remains subject to ongoing oversight. The judge’s decision allows operations to continue while broader legal challenges proceed.

A Facility Under Constant Scrutiny

Alligator Alcatraz — a nickname critics coined for the remote detention site located in the Everglades — has been the focus of multiple lawsuits since opening earlier this year. Civil rights advocates, immigration attorneys, and environmental groups have challenged the facility on constitutional, humanitarian, and environmental grounds.

Earlier court rulings temporarily halted some aspects of the center’s operation, including detainee transfers, citing environmental review concerns. Those decisions were later stayed on appeal, allowing the facility to remain open while litigation continues.

What Happens Next

Thursday’s ruling applies only to the request for emergency relief and does not resolve the underlying legal questionsabout the facility’s legality. Those issues will continue to be addressed in separate proceedings in federal court.

For now, the judge’s decision means Alligator Alcatraz will remain open, even as the debate over its operation, oversight, and long-term future remains far from settled.