ORLANDO, Fla. – A federal judge on Thursday denied a request for a preliminary injunction to close an immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, commonly called “Alligator Alcatraz.” U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek ruled that the detainee who requested the closure did not provide sufficient evidence of suffering irreparable harm at the facility.
Judge Dudek stated, “While there may indeed be deficiencies at Alligator Alcatraz that ultimately justify its dissolution, the plaintiff has not made the extraordinary showing needed to justify immediate relief of such magnitude.” M.A., the detainee involved in the lawsuit, is involved in ongoing litigation against the facility in Fort Myers, Florida.
In his lawsuit, M.A. claims that immigration enforcement is a federal issue, alleging that state authorities and private contractors have no legal authority to operate the facility under federal law. He further highlighted issues with detainee tracking and accessibility to legal help.
The judge proceeded with caution, indicating that closing a sizable detention facility should not occur before addressing the merits of its legality. The detention center has been the subject of multiple federal lawsuits since its inception earlier this year under Governor Ron DeSantis's administration.
In a separate ruling, a federal judge ordered the facility to wind down operations over environmental review failures, but an appellate court has temporarily kept it open.
Additionally, a third lawsuit by detainees brought forth claims regarding their limited access to confidential communications with attorneys, further complicating the legal landscape surrounding this issue. Despite efforts to negotiate solutions, a resolution has yet to be achieved.
