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September 7, 2025 - MIAMI— A federal appeals court on Thursday paused a lower court order that required the state of Florida and the Trump administration to wind down environmentally destructive activities at a mass detention center in Big Cypress National Preserve known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
Previous Related: Center for Biological Diversity Reports Judge Hits “Alligator Alcatraz” the Florida Everglades Detention Center with Temporary Restraining Order
The divided three-judge panel stopped short of overturning the injunction, which stems from a lawsuit filed by conservation groups in June to protect Florida’s imperiled wildlife and fragile ecosystems from the detention center.
The conservation groups will continue to fight the federal and state defendants’ appeal of the preliminary injunction in the appeals court. Meanwhile, today’s decision will at least temporarily allow state and federal officials to resume operations at the detention center.
“The case is far from over. In fact, it’s just starting, and we’re committed to fighting on. The court entered a limited stay order. 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,” said Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades. “In the meantime, if the DeSantis and Trump administrations choose to ramp operations back up at the detention center, 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.”
The detention center was holding hundreds of detainees Aug. 21 when U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ordered the orderly wind down of the facility. The judge cited extensive evidence demonstrating harm to the Everglades from operation of the facility, which was built hastily in June without any of the environmental review required by law.
“This is a heartbreaking blow to America’s Everglades and every living creature there, but the fight isn’t even close to over and I’m confident we’ll ultimately prevail,” said Elise Bennett, Florida and Caribbean director and a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “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. Our legal system can and should stop this incredibly harmful boondoggle.”
The June 27 lawsuit was filed by Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, represented by Scott Hiaasen, Paul Schwiep, Earthjustice and Center attorneys, and joined by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.
“At the end of the day, the facts and the law are on our side,” said Tania Galloni, managing attorney for the Florida office of Earthjustice. “Building a detention center in the heart of the Everglades was reckless and unlawful. We look forward to the issues being decided on the merits.”
The detention center site is surrounded on all sides by the Big Cypress National Preserve, one of America’s first national preserves, which protects ecologically sensitive wetlands and a dozen endangered and threatened species, including endangered Florida panthers and Florida bonneted bats. Florida panthers have been documented on the very site where the detention center now sits.
“In granting a stay, the majority relied on affidavits from individuals who declined to testify before the judge, and had no personal knowledge,” said Paul Schwiep, counsel for Friends of the Everglades and Center for Biological Diversity. “The dissent gets right: Live witnesses’ testimony fully supported Judge Williams’ findings that this is a federal facility, harming the Everglades, built without any attempt to follow environmental laws. We believe ultimately the judge’s careful order granting a preliminary injunction will be affirmed when considered on its merits.”
The Aug. 21 preliminary injunction was intended to prevent irreparable environmental harm while the lawsuit challenging the detention center could be heard. The lawsuit says the federal government must undertake a detailed environmental impact study, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. The environmental groups have also alleged violations of other federal environmental laws protecting clean water, biodiversity and public lands.
The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.8 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
Friends of the Everglades is a nonprofit founded by Marjory Stoneman Douglas in 1969 to preserve, protect and restore the only Everglades in the world.
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.
Source: Center for Biological Diversity
